by JL Madore
“And?”
“And the field that caught fire was four miles away. Too far for debris to travel.”
“You think Calli escaped and got air?”
Jaxx reaches around my back to help me to my feet. Normally, I’d front and pull away to stand on my own. This morning, I take Jaxx at his word and trust in our bond as mates. I give him my weight, thankful for the support.
“Yeah, that’s our working theory. Brant and Kotah are on the road. We’re supposed to catch up once you’re vertical. Lukas had the helicopter brought over. It’s on the back lawn and ready to roll. Shall we?”
Brant
“Welcome to my old stomping grounds,” I say, gesturing to the front windshield in front of us. “I was found in a forest in Washington State as a cub and placed with a sleuth here. It was an amazing place to grow up.”
Kotah nods. “It’s beautiful.”
The kid’s been too quiet. Between losing Calli, my reaction, the fight with his mother, and feeling that all of it is his fault, he’s barely spoken two words in the past eight hours.
“We’ll find her, buddy. You can feel her, right?”
He places his hand on his chest and nods. “Yes. She’s doing much better now than she was earlier. Last night, she was in such excruciating pain.”
“If we’re right about her phoenix taking flight, then we’re right about her crashing. She’s a phoenix though. The healing is miraculous.”
“Still, if she was home with us, she wouldn’t have had to suffer alone. She likely wouldn’t have crashed at all. I would never have allowed her to get too high on her first flight.”
“Things with Calli, are rarely about what we would allow her to do, Wolf. That female has a mind of her own and is tough as rocks.”
He nods but doesn’t seem any less upset.
My cell rings and the car’s Bluetooth connection puts it on the console screen. Grant Davies. I hit accept and keep my eyes on the road. “Hey, Grant. It’s not a great time. What can I do for you?”
There’s a chuckle on the other end of the phone. “It’s what I can do for you, Bear. Did you lose something precious? Or maybe someone?”
I stare at the display as my heart races. “Do you have her?”
“Safe and sound. She’s having a shower here at the station. I’ll take her to the ranch when she’s ready if that works for you.”
“No need,” I say, pressing my foot to the floor. “I’m twenty minutes out and coming fast. “Don’t let her out of your sight, Grant. There are some real bad people out to get her and she’s not ready to face the world alone just yet.”
“I’ve got her, Bear. Just be aware that she’s burned off her clothes. Don’t rip my throat out because she’s wearing a fire blanket.”
I chuckle. “Trust me. We’re very accustomed to that scenario. We’ll be right there. And Grant… thank you. You have no idea how happy you’ve made us.”
I end the call and reach over to take Kotah’s hand in mine. I squeeze it and meet the kid’s gaze. “See, Wolf. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Jaxx
I get Hawk loaded into the helicopter and have him lay on the back bench. He may be upright but it’s only by the strength of his will. To say that Doc is pissed is beyond an understatement. Hey, I’ve been where Hawk is and know the panic he’s feeling. Calli missing and me not well enough to help. Hawk took me to Calli instead of leaving me behind when I was down and out.
I’m returning the favor.
Lukas hands me the med-kit and I set it and our go-bags into the overhead bin. The two of us buckle into the leather captain’s chairs facing Hawk and we’re ready to roll.
A text rings in and I pull my phone out to read it. “It’s Kotah,” I say, my smile breaking free as I read the text. “Calli’s safe and in the hands of one of Brant’s sleuth-mates. They’re fifteen minutes from where she is and will update us when they have her. He also sent an address of where to meet them when we come.”
Hawk nods. “Lukas… if you will.”
Lukas takes my phone and climbs forward to the cockpit of the helicopter.
I stretch my legs and close my eyes. “Rest up, Hawk. We both could use some more sleep. All is well.”
“For the moment, anyway.”
CHAPTER TEN
Calli
I’m watching out the open door of the engine bay when Brant pulls into the parking lot, shuts things down, and bails out almost as quickly as Kotah does. I don’t care if I’m supposed to be some majestic mythological wildling, I let off a squeal and run to my men. I’m still wrapped in the fire blanket, so when I open my arms for them, I’m also flashing them the full monte.
They don’t seem to mind.
Kotah grabs me up in his arms and Brant wraps himself around us both. “Fuck, it’s good to hold you, beautiful.”
“It’s good to be held.”
“I’m so sorry, Chigua—”
I squeeze tighter. “Nothing to be sorry about. We were outgunned and outmanned. Not your fault. I’m fine. How’s Hawk? I felt his injuries.”
“Doc and Jaxx got him patched up. It’ll take him some time to recover, but Lukas donated blood and says the magic in his cells will bring him back to full health in a day or two.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for him.”
“You had no choice in the matter.”
“You got air, didn’t you?” Brant asks, excitement sparkling in his gold eyes.
“For a few minutes, yeah. I was so angry about the invasion of our compound and worried about Hawk. I wanted to get away from there so badly and needed to get back to you guys… It happened sorta on its own.”
“You’ve been so close,” Kotah says, before pressing his lips to my cheek and breathing me in. “I’m proud of you.”
“We both are,” Brant says, pressing his cheek to the top of my head. “How about we get somewhere private and check you over. I need some time with my mate to reassure my wild side and I know Kotah does too.”
I nod. “Sounds good. You didn’t, by chance, find my phone at the house did you? I know I burned up my sexy snowman, but I was hoping I didn’t kill my cell too.
“It’s in the side pocket of your go-bag in the back seat,” Brant says, pulling away to open the back door. “Hop in and hand me the blanket. I’ll return it to Grant and thank him.”
“Oh, I should thank him too,” I say, hesitating before climbing into the back seat.
“You can thank him at dinner tonight. I’m taking you home to meet the parents. I’m sure Margo and Ben are already planning a grand family dinner for us.”
“Excellent,” I say, climbing into the back seat and handing Brant the blanket.
The heated gaze I get from both of them sparks every pang of wanton I posses. “Hurry, back Bear. You’re not the only one who needs reassurance.”
Kotah closes the SUV door and is on top of me before I’ve finished dropping the seatback. As the seat clunks flat, I’m tearing at his shirt and he’s shoving his jeans down his thighs. “I’m sorry, Calli. I can’t wait.”
He’s got his mouth locked on my nipples and I arch into his kiss. Me being naked already is a distinct advantage. “Don’t wait. This is perfect.”
Too soon, he abandons his suckling and slides down my body. The leather of the seat creaks as I dig my heels in and push farther into the back to give him room.
He’s hungry my wolf.
I spread my knees to increase his access. I’m a bit pretzeled but I’m not complaining. He dives face-first into my crotch with a roughness Kotah doesn’t usually possess.
Bruising fingers on the fleshy rounds of my ass raise my hips while his mouth and chin crush against my folds. A rush of heat zings to meet his tongue. He flicks the entrance of my pussy with aggressive prodding, his grinding mouth rubbing my aching clit.
My fingers lace into his hair and I grind his mouth, hungry and horny. “Fuck, yes,” I gasp. “Eat me, Wolf. Gawd that feels so good.”
“Fuck me,” Brant says, climbing into the driver’s seat. “Right here, right now, eh?”
I can’t speak. I’m close and Kotah’s lost his mind.
My skin is growing hot, but I don’t care. Kotah is immune and I’ve torched the inside of vehicles before. My insides are hot and pulsing around his fingers.
“More, Wolf. Fuck me.”
Lost in the sensations, I’m writhing in the perfection. His tongue pushes and plays as he shifts his hold. His fingers rub my clit while he tongue-fucks my core.
“Mine.” The wild growl of his wolf is too much.
I come hard against his mouth, the world blowing out of focus as my control is lost. I cry out, shouting his name and I’m flipped onto my stomach and penetrated from behind.
The keening pulse of my orgasm doesn’t end but takes another crazy run at me as he slams deep into my womb. I press my forehead against the leather, bracing my palms against the folded seat as I come apart again.
All the while, his thumb is testing, probing the tight flesh of my ass. After my orgasm dies down, he withdraws and swipes the moisture from our joining to the back. “I want to fuck you here,” his wolf says, penetrating me with his thumb. “When Jaxx is inside me, it’s incredible. I need to mark you.”
I wriggle my butt in the air and he accepts the invitation.
He prods and plays in the moisture until he gains access and is slick enough to pick up a rhythm. I swallow and try to catch my breath, absorbing the succulent burn of pleasure.
“You’re so tight,” he gasps behind me. “I won’t last. Sweet heaven it’s so good.”
Hearing Kotah’s loss of reserve is the sexiest thing evah. Hearing it in conjunction with the slap-slap-slap of each thrust and the tickle of his sac brushing my clit, is too much.
I won’t last long either and I want to go off with him.
I shift to hold my weight with my shoulder and reach under my body to play with my clit and his balls. It doesn’t take much. My clit is swollen and sensitive and even the brush of my fingers is enough to send us both crashing into release.
We collapse into a sweaty heap of tangled limbs and Kotah spoons me from behind. I close my eyes, and focus on getting reacquainted with oxygen. His heart is hammering against my back and it takes us both a long while before our breathing returns to normal.
“I’m so sorry, Calli.” I hear the sorrow in his words and know the amped-up sex we shared was largely his wolf freaking out about my kidnapping.
I squeeze his arm around me and glance back over my shoulder. “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Wolf. I’m yours. You’re mine. We’re both safe and together and spent. That’s all there is.”
He presses his lips to my shoulder and kisses me. Somehow, I don’t think he heard me.
Brant
As much as it keys me up to watch Calli get thoroughly fucked by the kid, it’s torture too. She’s putting all her effort into moving forward with the others and I feel like I’m getting left behind. It’s my own fault—I know that—but for a guy who prides himself on having a way with females, I realize now I have no clue about connecting with them on a meaningful level. Certainly nothing lasting.
Hannah may have been joking when she made fun of me ‘taking it slow’ but she’s right. Before Calli, it was nothing for me to get inside a female twenty minutes after setting my sights on her. So, what’s my problem with Calli?
“All set,” Calli says, climbing into the front seat of the truck wearing one of the fire-resistant outfits Hawk had made for her. “Thanks for bringing my bag. As much as I love being naked with you guys, it’s nice to have clothes available when meeting new people.”
I hear the teasing tone in her voice and play along. “There’s nothing wrong with being naked for first impressions. You’ll always stand out in their minds.”
“Right?” She’s smiling, but when I look over, she’s got the same tentative look in her eye as I feel. “Are you okay, Bear? Are we okay?”
“Yeah, of course. Always. I’m tired from the trip and relieved you’re safe.”
We ride along in silence for a few minutes before she straightens. “Oh, sorry. I should’ve asked. How did it go with tracking down the kids?”
“They got four of them,” Kotah says from the back seat.
I nod. “Yeah, it turns out they’ve been separated and are being held in different locations.”
She fingers through her hair and frowns. “Any leads on how to find the others?”
“I’m not sure where we are on that. Hannah and her team are taking it from here.”
“Hannah, the one you texted me about?”
“The same. And though I’m sure you already know this, there’s nothing between us. She’s just a co-worker.”
“I trust you, Bear. What does that mean, her team is taking it from here? Are you handing it over?”
I hit the indicator and make my turn toward the ranch. “Yeah. For now, I need to focus on other things closer to home. Hannah’s good. I trust that she’ll run with what I started and keep me informed.”
She searches my expression and then smiles. “Okay. I can’t say I’m disappointed to have your full attention, but I don’t want you walking away from something that matters to you. I don’t want our mating to cost you anything you value.”
“Nah. I’m good. Focusing on the quint is my effort to bring me closer to what I value.” I pull off the road and stop at the first gate. “Kotah, do you mind opening the gate?”
The kid jumps out, unhooks the rope latch, and walks the gate open. Then, when I drive through, he closes it back up and jumps in.
“It’s not the high-tech security of anywhere Hawk would put us, but as I told him, I could’ve protected us too.”
“And you swear he’s all right?” Calli says. “Damn, I wish I’d been there. I feel so bad he’s suffering.”
“Jaxx says he’s moving slow but he’s moving. He also said he’s even crankier than usual.”
Calli smiles. “Lucky us.”
When I get to the intersection of laneways, I take a left and follow it around the south Bison pastures to the driving shed. I pull up to the loading door and stop. “Kotah, if you would. The code is 25118.”
Kotah chuckles as he gets out to punch in the digits. “I get it.”
Calli arches a brow. “And what am I missing?”
“The code is the alphanumeric value of the word bear.”
She laughs. “And he caught on that fast? Man, his brain works on a different level than mine, that’s for sure.”
“Mine too.”
When the electronics open things up, I drive the SUV inside and get out of the truck. After closing us in, I grab our bags and point toward the bags of manure stacked on skids in the corner. I chuckle at the confusion on their faces.
“Welcome to one of the Ursine safehouses.”
Kotah looks around at the old tractor and the tools hanging on the board and batten walls. Opening the rusted-out electrical panel on the wall, I place my hand on the scanner.
“Access, Brantley Robbins, granted.”
The motor beneath the skid hums to life and the whole stack of manure shifts to the side revealing the hatch of the old, underground military bunker. “My Alpha is a retired four-star general and one of only a dozen people who ever knew this bunker existed. He bought the land after it was decommissioned and restored it for our purposes.”
I gesture for Kotah to take the lead and he slings his bag over his shoulder and starts down.
“The light is on your right, waist-high.”
When the tunnel lights up, I drop Calli’s bag down to him and help her get turned around and started on the ladder.
“This is very Mission Impossible, Bear.”
“Keeping it interesting, beautiful.”
I wait until Kotah clears h
er from the bottom of the ladder and follow suit. When I shut the hatch over my head, the motor hums and the skid slides back into place. “You’re safe here. We have time to regroup and figure out our next move. Come on, I’ll show you two around.”
Hawk
“Go over it all again,” I say twenty minutes after we take off.
Jaxx pries one eye open and shoots me a dirty look. “Some of us were up all night savin’ your ass. A little shut-eye doesn’t seem to be too much to ask for.”
“Yeah, well, I’m trying to save all our asses. From the top, Jaguar. Kotah’s mother shows up out of the blue with no apparent reason other than to make his life miserable.”
“As usual.”
“As usual,” I agree. Despite me not being an overtly affectionate guy, I’m sick of that woman trashing our wolf. He’s a genuinely beautiful soul. “If he had her pinned and about to crush her windpipe, our boy is at the end of his rope.”
“I’m sure he’s better now that Calli’s found. Brant said they didn’t make it out of the parkin’ lot before the kid was buried inside her smoothin’ the rough edges.”
“You two are gossipy old ladies.”
“Some people talk shop—we talk sex. No details. It’s all very PG.”
I roll my eyes. “How did the Prima get there?”
“Palace Learjet, I suppose.”
I look to Lukas. “Find out when the flight plan was filed and who ordered it.”
Lukas snorts. “That’s waaay beyond my paygrade, Barron. The Prima is our first lady.”
“Tell whoever is asking that you’re inquiring on behalf of the Prime-in-Waiting. Jaxx, text Kotah and make sure he’s okay with that.”
Jaxx pulls out his phone. “I will, but I can already tell you he won’t mind. If it helps us find out who’s gunnin’ for Calli, he’ll be on board.”
“So, who else knew you were in Oregon?” Lukas asks. “I assume you booked the place with one of your usual aliases.”
That sparks something. “I did but Jane knows my aliases and had tracked our travel logs to Oregon. She called me and asked me about it while we were outside the estate awaiting confirmation.”