by Renee Rose
Garrett
At daybreak the next morning, we get on a plane in Hermosillo. It’s a direct flight to Mexico City. Three hours. I should have called my dad before we left. It’s been almost twenty-four hours since Sedona disappeared, but there’s some part of me that needs to handle this on my own. Prove I’m capable of leading my own pack, keeping my sister safe.
Hopefully, I’m not putting Sedona at more risk by waiting to call him.
I stare at the golden head resting on my shoulder, the shiny waves cascading down Amber’s sleeping frame. She normally has her hair up, confined, out of reach. She holds back her trust the same way.
I finger a strand, rubbing the impossibly silky hair between my fingers.
Mine.
God, I want this little human. Not just to fuck, although that, too—definitely that. But my need for her goes beyond sex. I want to possess all of her—heart, body, soul. I want to mark her as my own. I want to treasure and spoil her, tell her every day how special she is. Guard and protect her so she can let her walls down and let her gift out. Live free.
But it’s not in my genetic makeup to settle down. Besides, it’s not possible. I can’t have her and remain alpha, and my wolf is too dominant to be anything else.
I could pull up roots and live as a lone wolf, but I was raised in a pack, destined to lead one. My wolf is too social to be an outcast. The scorn of the pack and disappointment of my parents would be too much to bear. Even with Amber as my mate, my wolf might come to resent her for what I had to give up to claim her.
It’s time for me to own up to my responsibilities and follow the rules.
Rule number one: Humans and werewolves don’t mix.
The plane descends. Amber stirs, lifting her head from my shoulder and blinking as she takes my fingers and squeezes.
She lifts her face to me, about to say something, but I cut her off with a kiss. Cupping the back of her head, I stroke her lips with mine, taking my mind off my gnawing dread about Sedona with the best distraction ever. I lick into her mouth, sucking her tongue, biting at her lips. She tastes as sweet as she smells.
The plane bumps the ground, and I tear myself away. Time to focus.
I’m tense as we ride in the cab through thick afternoon traffic. Not even Amber’s hand on my thigh calms me.
When we get to the closest hotel, Jared steps up to handle check-in. I wait with my back to the wall, where no one can surprise me. Humans look at me and then away, scuttling to give me space.
“Boss,” Trey says softly, and I realize I’m growling, a soft, low sound that nonetheless intimidates everyone in a hundred foot radius.
As soon as we set foot in the hotel room, I almost turn around. “I can’t do this.” My voice chokes with my wolf. “I can’t be closed up.”
“All right,” Amber says. “Let’s go look around.”
I nod, chest heaving in an effort to get control. “I would if I knew where to go. Anything from Kylie yet?”
“No. Oh wait—it just came in. Here”—Trey holds up his phone—“Kylie found the name of the passenger traveling with a canine on the plane leaving Hermosillo last night. He’s a textile importer with a warehouse here. I’ve got the address.”
A growl rips out of me at full volume. Trey staggers back a little, showing his throat.
“Garrett,” Amber touches my arm, as my vision tunnels.
I’m about to go under.
“You have to keep control. Sedona needs you.”
“Stay,” I grit out.
She nods. “I’ll stay here. Will you leave me a phone? Mine doesn’t have service here.”
I check my phone to make sure it works and toss it on the dresser. “Trey and Jared’s numbers are in there.”
“Boss? When are we going to tell the rest of the pack?”
“We go now, scout out. See if she’s there and if we can get her out. If we need reinforcements, I’ll call in my dad. He’ll bring both packs, and it will mean war.”
~.~
Amber
I pace the length of the hotel room. I ordered room service, but I can’t eat the torta—a toasted Mexican sandwich, filled with ham and cheese.
I find myself toying with my hair, and twist it up into a bun, only to yank it down several minutes later. I’m coming apart at the seams.
Crazy Amber.
To pull back Lawyer Amber, I file imaginary civil lawsuits against the men who captured Sedona. List all the ways I could bring them down.
But what if Garrett’s right? What if Crazy Amber is the only one who can save her?
Not crazy.
Garrett thinks my visions are a gift.
I sit cross-legged on the bed. “Come to me,” I breathe, trying to call up the relaxed state I had with Garrett. Immediately, my cheeks heat. I shift on my bottom, ignoring the tickle in my special spot. I hope I don’t have to masturbate or receive servicing from a hulking wolf-man every time I need a vision. I let out a humorless laugh. I need to stop this attachment to Garrett. There’s nothing for us, no future. He made that plain.
Find Sedona. In this, at least, I can help him.
Where is Garrett now?
Pain stabs my head. Fuck. Does that mean I’m holding back my inner sight? I get up and pace around the room. Seeing Garrett’s bag, I rummage through it and pull out one of his shirts.
“Give it to me,” I call out like an absolute madwoman.
Instantly, visions flood my head. Wolves in cages lined up next to one another—dozens of them. One of them, a giant gray wolf, throws himself against the bars, growling.
I come out of my vision, heaving, and throw my hands out to steady myself. My body is charged and ready with adrenaline, as if I had been in one of those cages.
Garrett? I ask. Was that Garrett in the cage?
Urgency throws me off the bed. But what should I do? Another vision swims into focus, and I close my eyes. Garrett leans against my door back in Tucson, showing me how to pick a lock.
I open my eyes. The clock shows six p.m. Precious time lost.
I know what I have to do.
~.~
Amber
A half hour later, the cab I hailed pulls up one block away from the warehouse.
Mouth dry, I pay the cabbie and start walking. Dusk presses upon the concrete buildings; litter scatters in the street. Graffiti covers several of the buildings. The warehouse in question, though, has a fresh paint job and tall, electric fences.
I hesitate.
What if this doesn’t end well? Who will help Sedona?
I pull out Garrett’s phone, which I snagged from the dresser in the hotel before I left. Scroll through his contacts to one called Dad
I punch it.
A deep voice that sounded remarkably similar to Garrett’s answered. “Hi, Son.”
“Hi Mr. Green. My name is Amber Drake, I’m a, uh, friend of your son?”
“What’s going on, Amber?” Power vibrates through the phone, and I almost drop it. Garrett wasn’t kidding when he talked about alpha dominance.
“Sedona was kidnapped, and Garrett, Trey, Jared, and I followed her down to Mexico City. Garrett and the guys went to a warehouse, but I believe they’ve been captured as well. I’m outside, ready to go in and rescue them, but had to call someone and tell them what was happening first.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Garrett’s neighbor.”
There was a pause, and I knew what he wanted to ask. “Human, yes.” Psychic. I still can’t say it. “Garrett planned to call you if he needed reinforcements. If you don’t hear from me or Garrett in the next few hours, you need to come and bring both packs.”
“I will be on a plane tonight with reinforcements. You sit tight until we get there.”
“I’m already at the warehouse. I’m going in.”
“No. Stay where you are until I get there.” Clearly, the elder wolf is as bossy and protective as his son. “You will not go in alone. Wait until I arrive.”
“I’m sorry,
Mr. Green, but I have to go, I’m already here. I just wanted to get you the address in case I don’t return. I’ll text it.”
“No, dammit—”
I end the call and silence the phone. It flashes with Dad again, immediately, while I text the address to the warehouse, but I ignore the call and drop the device in my pocket. Before I lose my nerve, I force myself to cross the street and head towards the warehouse. I might be crazy, but it’s what the situation calls for.
I open my mind to my intuition as I approach the forbidding concrete building. It hits me with a wave of nausea. My entire body shudders.
Which door? I ask, and let my attention drift. Left of the building.
Striding toward the door on that side, I scan the eaves for cameras. I don’t know what to look for, but it appears clear.
I pull out the tools Garrett dropped in my purse the night he taught me to pick locks, take a deep breath, and imagine I’m back outside my apartment, Garrett’s comforting bulk at my back.
Slow and steady, Counselor.
I hear a noise and drop the pick. Crouching, I wait. Spanish words and the smell of cigarette smoke waft my way. I grab the knob to pull myself up, and it turns. I almost laugh out loud. My intuition brought me to a entry that wasn’t locked.
Inside, a long, dark hallway stretches ahead. Male voices come from a lighted room halfway down, along with the murmur of a television. If I go down the hall, I’ll have to walk right past it.
I force myself to move, creeping like a wolf. Turns out the light in the hall comes from a window in the door. I duck under it and run the rest of the way down the hall. It dead ends into another entryway. I try the knob. Locked.
Fumbling in the dark, I palm the tools and insert them.
You can do it. I imagine Garrett’s large hand closing over mine, guiding me.
Click. First tooth down. I hold it in place and press the second, then third, and ease the door open. Metal shelves house rows of cages. Most are empty, but four are occupied by enormous wolves.
Growls greet me. I slip inside and shut the door quickly, telling my heart to calm down. I’m in the wolf den, now. My basic instincts scream at me to turn and run from the roar of wild animals captive in this cavernous space. The warehouse must be soundproofed because I heard none of this outside.
Eyes glow and fangs snap at me as I go by. Which one is Garrett? I look for the large gray wolf from my vision. I don’t see any white wolves, which means Sedona’s not here.
I edge closer to a silver wolf in a cage but hesitate. Its eyes are yellow. Garrett’s eyes turn silver.
I hear a horrible snarling to my left and whirl. An enormous silver-gray wolf throws himself against his cage, snapping and snarling.
“G-Garrett?”
The wolf launches at its cage, slamming his shoulder into the wires. Silver eyes. I recoil from the snapping jaws and gleaming teeth. It can’t be Garrett; he wouldn’t try to attack me. Except, I recognize those eyes. I know it’s him.
I try to think rationally but can’t bring myself to step any closer. This giant, terrifying animal snapping at the bars has no humanity.
“Garrett?” I try again.
A croak from several cages down reaches me. “It’s him. He’s freaking out because you’re in danger.” I identify the voice. Down the row, a naked human form curls in a cage. Jared.
“Is it safe to let him out?” I ask, my spine unraveling as Garrett snarls again.
“I don’t know.” Jared’s face contorts in pain. He throws his head back, his human form swallowed by an explosion of fur. Seconds later, a wolf stares at me.
Garrett’s wolf lets out a half growl, half roar, and Jared’s wolf whimpers and tucks tail. Goose bumps rise on my arms.
“All right,” I whisper, and crouch so my head is lower than Garrett’s wolf. “Hey, it’s me. Amber.”
My hands shake as I reach for the lock. He’s right there, though, snarling through the bars at me.
“Would you mind backing off a bit? You’re scaring me.”
He throws his shoulder against the gate of the cage again.
“I need you to calm down, or I won’t be able to concentrate. We have to get out of here so you can find Sedona, remember?”
Another half roar, and I cringe on the ground. Maybe mentioning his sister wasn’t a good idea. Garrett’s wolf paces back and forth, stopping to gnaw on the silver bars and bellow in pain.
I resist curling into a ball and pulling my shirt over my head like a child hiding from a monster. At any moment, Garrett’s captors could come back here and find me. Then I’ll be in a cage, too. If I’m lucky.
“We need to get out of here. Let me help you,” I plead, careful not to make eye contact. Garrett’s wolf chuffs but refuses to back away as I start to use the tools. His stare makes the hair on the back of my neck rise as I fiddle with the padlock.
As soon as I open the gate, Garrett launches out. I drop to the floor. He hurtles over my head, landing on all fours in a so-fast-he’s-a-blur move that nearly makes me pee my pants. The giant wolf sniffs me up and down. I close my eyes, stifling a whimper. A satisfied chuff blows my hair back, and when I open my eyes, he’s moved on. I guess he decided not to eat me. He lopes to the hallway and stops in front of it, growling.
“Okay, just a minute.” I run to Jared’s cage to spring the lock. The gray wolf, smaller than Garrett, is still frightening. One snap of those ferocious jaws, and I’ll lose a limb.
Once he’s out, he catches my purse strap in his teeth and tugs me to a third cage.
“Trey?” The gray-and-brown wolf licks my fingers through the cage as I fumble with the lock.
Garrett growls from the door again, and I rush to open it for him. With a furious roar, he and Trey barrel down the hall, towards the office.
“Senorita,” a voice calls from a cage. “Sueltame y te ayudaré.” The cage of the yellow-eyed wolf now holds a naked man, whose black-eyed stare is no less intimidating than his wolf’s.
Jared tugs my purse strap, but I resist.
“He says if I set him free, he will help us,” I tell Jared, who stills as if considering. He cocks his head at me.
“I think we can trust him.” My intuition comes as a warm feeling in my gut this time.
Guns fire down the corridor. I scream, dropping to the floor and scrambling back. Jared thrusts his body between me and the entryway. A grunt of pain, and he shifts again to human form.
I reach out a hand but don’t touch him. Muscles ripple under his tattoos. He stands, and I keep my gaze on his face, but not before I notice taut six-pack abs etched into his tanned skin.
More shots blast through the hall.
“We need to help them,” I cry, but Jared catches me before I can run forward.
“I don’t think so, Counselor. Garrett would kill me if I left you unprotected.”
“We have to do something.”
“I—help,” the strange wolf offers again.
“Give me the lock pick.” Jared holds out his hand. He heads to the cage but halts me when I try to follow. “Amber, stay back.”
What is it about these werewolves thinking they can give me orders? As soon as we’re out of here, I’ll remind them I’m the one who saved their fur-covered butts.
Another gunshot rings out, and I flinch.
Okay, maybe the saving is a team effort.
“Hurry,” I say. Jared approaches the cage, hands up as if showing he has no weapons. With slow, careful movements, he starts to pick the lock. The stranger heads to the back of the cage. I notice both guys keep their eyes averted from each other.
Let the record reflect: Wolves are into power games. Because that’s definitely what’s going on here. Even little ole human me can sense it.
A rumbling sound comes from the hall, just as Jared gets the lock free on the strange wolf’s cage. He springs back when the cage gate swings open.
I turn to figure out what’s making the sound in the hall. In stalks Garrett’s wolf
, looking ten times bigger, eyes glowing like a demon’s. It prowls forward, raising a nose to sniff the air, and then leaps over me, landing in front of Jared and the stranger. Wet spatters onto the ground. Something dark and liquid drips from the wolf’s maw and side.
Blood.
Garrett’s wolf roars. Jared cowers, and the Mexican wolf drops to his side to show his belly.
“No,” I shout, and rush forward like a crazy woman. “Don’t hurt them.”
“Boss.” Trey staggers in, naked, human form also covered in blood. “Easy, man.”
Garrett’s power rolls through the room, sending me to my knees. Jared and Trey drop to the floor. The stranger jumps back in the cage, in wolf form, and rolls on its back with a whine of submission. His eyes roll with terror.
“Garrett, come back to me.” With effort, I raise my face. Whatever alpha weight he’s throwing around, it affects me, but I can fight it. I stagger to my feet and approach the giant gray wolf, palms turned out. “Please. I need you.”
Another roar, and Garrett starts to shift. He appears in human form, his head bowed, face twisted. When it’s done, his chest heaves like he’s done an Ironman. His muscles are slick with red, and his eyes still glow silver. I scan his torso to see if any of the blood is his and gasp when I see a bullet wound.
He gives a dismissive shake of his head. “It’s nothing.”
Jared and Trey rise slowly and put themselves between their alpha and the strange wolf in the cage who’s still whimpering his submission. I notice they have matching wolf paw tattoos on their shoulders, like Garrett’s. Must be a pack symbol.
“Garrett,” I say, a bit breathless. He might be back in human form, but his predator self is still running the show. “What happened?” I ask at the same time Jared says, “The raiders—”
“Dead,” Trey answers us both. “They’re all dead.”
Garrett wipes the blood from his mouth and flexes his fingers into fists.
I look away, to distract myself from what Garrett’s done. They were bad guys; they deserved it. It’s still a lot for our second date.
“Did you find out anything about—?” Jared asks.