Safe Haven

by Brenda Trim

  “I will do my best to find a way to reverse the effects. Were you able to talk with Jay about donating blood?” she asked.

  “Yes. Jay said to count on him. In fact, Dawn said she’d happily give blood, too. I think they’re a good fit for our growing pack. Wouldn’t you agree?” he asked and puffed his chest. Liv could hear and see his pride.

  “I do. It’s because they have an incredibly sexy Alpha leading them,” she shared and hip-bumped his thigh.

  Without warning, Lawson scooped her into his arms and walked to the bed. He tossed her onto the soft mattress and jumped, landing by her side. Liv couldn’t help but laugh at his playful behavior. He was acting like an overgrown child, and she found it endearing. He tugged the sash at her waist and opened her robe then buried his head between her breasts.

  “Ahhh,” she squealed as his hands greedily ravaged her body. “I still haven’t eaten,” she sputtered, unable to stop laughing as he wiggled his face side to side.

  “Don’t worry, food is coming,” he said as he picked up the black sash then covered her eyes with the silky fabric. “Nine and a half months ain’t got nothing on me,” he declared as he securely tied the makeshift blindfold.

  “Weeks,” she corrected and smiled as her surroundings shifted into a dark mystery. She couldn’t see a damn thing, and her heart pounded with eager anticipation.

  “Whatever,” he whispered in her ear then kissed her neck. “Let’s play,” he murmured then slipped off her robe.

  Liv’s stomach growled and her core clenched with need. Food and sex. Lawson was about to satisfy both of her cravings.

  Lawson tightened his grip on his gun as he talked with the males. “So, let’s recap before we head out. You’ve each been assigned your lookout station. We will stake out Jerry’s house as long as it takes. Given what Devin and Tyler discovered, it could be days and I refuse to miss him this time. When he exits, depending on which door he uses, the closest one will shoot. These bullets hurt like a bitch, so he’s going to be pissed, and I imagine he will shift immediately. Now, the tranquilizer will take five to ten minutes to take effect so be prepared for a chase. We’ll follow him on the four-wheelers until he drops. Do not engage him. He will be extremely violent and dangerous. Am I clear on this? I don’t want this to turn violent,” he informed the group and looked to Ryan, Devin, Tyler, Knox, and Jay.

  Each male nodded, and Lawson hooked the gun strap over his shoulder. “Alright, grab your packs and let’s get in position. This hunt could take a while, so bring your patience,” he instructed and walked towards the group of ATVs.

  “Oh, and don’t forget,” Lawson added and turned to the group at his back, “his hearing and eyesight are as keen as ours. When we get close to the house, we’ll push the four wheelers the rest of the way. The walkie-talkies in your packs are for emergency use only. Silence is crucial. When you get in position, remain still. It may be dark, but that won’t hinder his vision. I don’t want to alert him.”

  “Roger that,” Knox replied and they each climbed on one of the four-wheelers.

  Lawson was glad he recently purchased a few more vehicles; otherwise, some of them would have to hoof it to the neighbor’s property, which was several miles away. In wolf form that was no big deal, but no one wanted to walk that far.

  The engines roared to life and, as a group, they plowed through the nearby wooded area. The cold air slapped Lawson’s face, giving him a jolt of energy. The smell of pine and earth stirred his wolf, and his beast howled in his head, demanding release. Not tonight, old friend. Too much at stake.

  Within twenty minutes, Lawson and the others were at their designated posts. From his view point, the house looked empty. Not a single light was on inside the house, and there wasn’t a car parked near the back door. He hoped Jerry was home. Devin mentioned he drove a dark blue Tahoe, but he didn't see it anywhere.

  Lawson leaned against the tire of the four-wheeler, trying to get comfortable. Devin and Tyler had to wait for three days before Jerry made an appearance. He hoped it didn’t take that long. He already missed Liv and her warm body.

  He recalled their naughty picnic. His cock hardened at the image of Liv sucking and licking his fingers as he fed her. It was the most sensual experience of his life, and he couldn’t wait for a repeat performance. Next time, he would change it up and spread dessert across her breasts then lick it off slowly. And, he knew exactly where he’d put the whipped cream.

  He shook off his lustful thoughts before he hopped on the ATV and raced back to their bed to devour every inch of his sexy redhead. He needed to focus on the mission. There would be plenty of time to concentrate on Liv after they caught the Ravin.

  Distant headlights caught his attention and Lawson picked up his walkie-talkie. “This could be our chance. Get ready,” he voiced and laid on his stomach to get into a better shooting position.

  He watched as a vehicle came into view. The navy-blue SUV pulled around to the back of the house and parked. Lawson was grateful for his keen eyesight because scopes couldn’t be used with tranquilizer darts. He imagined humans would have a difficult time hitting a target from this distance. Lawson wondered how Jensen managed to get close enough to a Ravin to immobilize the creature. Guess he wouldn’t be asking him that question since the fucking prick was dead.

  The driver door opened, drawing Lawson’s attention. “Come on. Get out of the fucking vehicle,” he whispered to himself.

  The male sat inside the SUV for what seemed like forever. It looked like he was scrolling through his cell phone and Lawson wondered about the male’s personal life. Did he have a family that was searching for him? Was he lonely living this life of solitude?

  Suddenly, a twig snapped in the distance. Lawson had no doubt it was of his crew but couldn’t be sure of who. Jerry’s head jerked toward the noise, and he stared at the trees.

  Fuck. Lawson held his breath, praying their opportunity wasn’t ruined.

  Jerry stayed in place, but Lawson could see his head darting from side to side, no doubt searching for danger.

  He assumed Jerry didn’t detect any threat because he stepped from the vehicle and shut the driver door. Lawson lifted his gun and zoomed in on the male. He wasn’t an expert at firing a weapon but considered himself a decent shot. He aimed for Jerry’s side, deciding that was the safest area to strike.

  Before he could pull the trigger, Lawson heard multiple shots. He glanced at Jerry and watched the male cry out then stumble to the ground. In the next breath, Lawson saw the male’s face elongate and claws extend from his hands. The Ravin howled its rage and turned in circles, looking for the enemy.

  And then he took off into the woods.

  Lawson jumped on his four-wheeler and headed in the same direction. He cursed when he realized the vehicle was much slower than his wolf. There was no way he would catch up to the Ravin. He heard the roar of the other ATVs close behind. Hopefully, the tranquilizer would take effect soon. Lawson jerked the wheel and ventured off the worn trail in hopes that the Ravin had done the same thing.

  Darkness surrounded him, but his keen senses took front and center, leading the way. He sniffed the air for any unfamiliar scents and scanned the trees for sudden movements. Jerry couldn’t run forever. Eventually, the drug would incapacitate him. The only problem Lawson could foresee was if they couldn’t find him before he regained consciousness.

  Lawson put that thought aside. No room for negativity. They would find the Ravin and get him to Liv’s lab before the drugs wore off. This plan would work. It had to.

  He let off the gas and slowed to a stop, waiting for the others to catch up to him. It didn’t take but a few minutes before he heard another vehicle approaching. It was his brother Ryan.

  “See anything?” Ryan blurted as he pulled beside him.

  “Nope. You?”

  Ryan shook his head and killed the engine. “Did you get a good look at him?” his brother asked and Lawson could see the worry on his face.

  “
Yeah. Reminded me of the Ravin that attacked me. How 'bout you?” Lawson asked.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it. I had no idea that a Ravin changed back and forth like that,” Ryan replied and reached into his back pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

  Lawson couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen Ryan smoke. He thought his brother had kicked the nasty-ass habit. He knew the only time his brother smoked was under duress, so he knew seeing the Ravin resonated on a deep level.

  “The truth is we don’t know what happens. Maybe this guy hasn’t gone full Ravin yet. Maybe it progresses over time until they can’t shift back at all. That’s why I want to capture him and let Liv test his blood,” he explained, hoping to calm his brother’s nerves.

  “I hope your theory is right,” Ryan mumbled and took a long drag of his smoke.

  “You doing okay?” Lawson asked, watching his brother closely. The hand holding his cigarette trembled as Ryan took another drag.

  “Yeah, I’m good. Just a little agitated right now,” Ryan answered.

  Lawson knew better. Liv told him what she witnessed when Ryan operated on him. His brother wasn’t as controlled as he would have everyone believe.

  Lawson’s walkie-talkie alerted then he heard Knox’s voice. “Hey, Lawson. We found him. He’s loaded up, and we’re headed back to the hotel. Meet you back there in a few,” he blared through the device.

  “Ten-four. Ryan and I will be there in about ten minutes. I’ll let Liv know we’re on our way,” he responded.

  He grabbed his cell phone and texted Liv. They had a short window to get the Ravin secured in the van and transported to the holding area at the lab.

  As they sped back to Safe Haven, Lawson couldn’t ignore the guilt that surfaced. Despite his good intentions, he had captured a Ravin and was taking him to a cell where he would remain in captivity until they decided to set him free. He believed it was the right thing to do, but he still felt more like the enemy than an ally. Hopefully, Jerry wouldn’t agree with that summation. If so, they may never get the information needed to help his fellow shifters, including his brother.

  Chapter 21

  Liv paced outside the entrance to Smith and Kimbro. After Lawson’s text, she decided to go ahead of them and prepare for their arrival. The last thing they needed to deal with was her fumbling for the keys to the door or traipsing through a dark hall.

  Arriving early also gave her time to set out any needed supplies. First thing on her list was drawing blood. Taking a sample while the Ravin was unconscious might be her only chance, and she didn’t want to miss the opportunity. The sooner she began testing, the better. She included a sedative with her supplies in case the tranquilizer started to wear off.

  She chewed on her lower lip as she waited for the van to arrive. Was that what was taking so long? Had they run into complications on the drive over? She prayed everything went as planned. Lawson explained how tranquilizer darts worked, and she knew he guessed the weight of the Ravin, which if underestimated, could result in a shorter downtime. However, if he overestimated, it could mean death. She knew Lawson would never forgive himself if that happened.

  Liv wiped sweaty palms on her jeans. They should be there by now, she surmised and reached into her back pocket for her cell phone to call and ask the reason for their delay. Right then, the screech of tires sounded right before she caught sight of the van pulling into the parking lot. It was Lawson. She watched him drive to the front of the building and park beside the sidewalk.

  Moments later, the side door slid open, and Knox, Devin, and Tyler jumped out at the same time Lawson hopped from the driver side and ran around the front of the van.

  “Where’s Ryan?” she asked when she noticed his brother wasn’t with them.

  “He took off when we were loading the Ravin into the van. Said he needed to let his wolf loose,” Lawson answered and shared a knowing look with Liv.

  “I see,” she replied as she watched the four men grab the large cage inside the van and pull. She had hoped to take samples of Ryan’s blood, as well. Hopefully, Ryan would cooperate and allow her to draw blood at the hotel when she got back. Helping him was a top priority.

  Liv’s eyes suddenly bulged, and her hand flew to her mouth when she saw the creature inside the metal enclosure. It was a scene straight from a horror movie, and she gasped at the sight. He looked nothing like a shifter or the wolf counterpart she’d seen.

  Hair covered the man. Not fur but actual hair. It was longer across the top of his head and back. Gnarled fingers and toes tipped his hands and feet with thick, discolored claws jutting from the tips both. But it was his face that made her cringe and look away. The elongated snout was covered with dense flesh that was dark brown. Long fangs protruded from its jaws, and pointed ears stood straight from the top of its head. She understood now why Lawson said human sightings mistook Ravins for werewolves.

  “Where to Liv?” Lawson asked, snapping Liv out of her stupor.

  “What? Sorry. It’s through here. The holding cell is in the back room,” she replied and opened the glass door so the men could haul the cage into the building.

  Liv quickly took command and led the group to the room where they would keep the Ravin. She looked over her shoulder several times, checking to see if the creature stirred. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully. So far everything was going as planned.

  She ushered them into the specially designed room and looked to Lawson, gauging his reaction. His head nodded up and down as he perused the area. “This is fantastic, Liv. You took every measure to ensure his comfort and wellbeing. I appreciate your effort,” he acknowledged.

  “I want Jerry to know we care. This situation isn’t going to be anything like what you experienced,” Liv replied as she watched them extract the Ravin from the smaller cage and place him inside the holding cell.

  “Hell, if I had this kind of setup, I might never have left,” Knox interjected as he turned in circles inside the Ravin’s cell.

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but hopefully this will make him feel at ease,” Lawson replied as they stepped from the cell.

  “Wait, don’t shut the door. I need to get some blood samples,” Liv called out as she walked toward her supply tray.

  “I’ll help you,” Lawson said and remained in the holding cell.

  She nodded and slipped on medical gloves then grabbed the needle and three tubes. With all that hair, she wasn’t using a tourniquet for this procedure. Her goal was to extract blood as quick as possible then get the hell out of dodge. She took a deep breath then walked into the cell. Her heart hammered a drumbeat against her chest as she eyed the Ravin. The closer she got, the more she picked up on his scent.

  The rancid odor made Liv cover her face with her sleeve as she tried to fight the urge to vomit. No wonder these creatures left their family and friends, seeking solitude. She could barely stand to be in the same room with the Ravin.

  She breathed against the fabric of her sweatshirt and took one deep breath then held it. If she worked quickly, she might not catch another whiff of the fetid smell. Lawson held the Ravin’s arm while Liv stuck the needle at the crease in the elbow. She filled the first two tubes with ease and just as she was about to slide the third tube in place, she saw the Ravin’s eyes slowly open. Liv jerked her hand back and dropped the needle, causing the last tube to fall to the concrete floor and shatter.

  The creature bolted upright and howled. Lawson shoved her towards the door of the cell and Liv scrambled to safety. “Lawson, get out of there!” she screamed as she turned to see the Ravin jump to its feet.

  She didn’t realize how tall the beast was until it stood. The Ravin was at least a foot taller than Lawson, and he was almost seven feet. Liv looked up, and her knees quivered when piercing blue eyes met hers.

  The Ravin snapped its jaws at her before its arm swung out, slicing across Lawson’s chest. Lawson cried out in pain, and in the next breath, Tyler and Devin darted inside the cage. The creatur
e charged toward the opening in the cell but Tyler jumped on top of him and tackled him to the ground. Devin grabbed Lawson around the waist and yanked him to safety and Knox rushed to assist Tyler.

  The Ravin tossed Tyler to the side with little effort, telling Liv his strength overpowered the shifters. Knox immediately jumped on its back, pounding his fist against the creature’s skull. Each hit sounded like a block of wood cracking in half, but the beast seemed unaffected by the blows to its head.

  Liv suddenly remembered the sedative on her supply tray. She ran over and grabbed the syringe then rushed back inside the cell, ignoring Lawson’s protests. The Ravin was swinging its upper body side to side, trying to knock Knox from his its back.

  Liv crouched low and jumped, grabbing the Ravin around the leg. She plunged the needle deep into its calf just as the beast slashed across her back. Liv cried out in pain then felt her legs pulled from behind. She turned to see Lawson tugging her toward him, and she reached out so he could grab her hand.

  He yanked her from the cell, shouting, “What the fuck were you thinking?”

  Liv looked back to the Ravin and watched him stumble then fall to the ground. “That’s what I was thinking,” she responded. “Get out of the cell now!” she screamed to Tyler and Knox.

  The men rushed from the holding area and slammed the metal door closed. Liv heard the click of the automatic lock, and she released her sigh. The transfer didn’t go as smoothly as she hoped, but at least everyone survived.

  Liv winced as she tried getting to her feet. Lawson’s arm was around her waist in the next second. “Baby, don’t move. Let me look at your back,” he urged and gently lifted her sweatshirt.

  “You’re hurt, too. Are you okay?” Liv gritted out when she felt cold air brush against her flesh.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. We need to get you back to Safe Haven. Ryan will be able to patch you up,” Lawson said as he gently inspected her wound.