What to do mean, what are you looking at?” Mia picked up on Ryleigh’s exclamation.
Emma was embarrassed, she didn’t want to talk about her and Dalton’s sexy time. It was private and personal, but wasn’t this what close woman did when they got together?
“What is that?” Mia said, examining Emma’s wrist. “Is it a birthmark? It’s kind of cool like a Celtic knot or something, maybe an infinity symbol? I didn’t notice it before.”
“Nope,” Ryleigh said, “that mark means Dalton and Emma did the nasty. Shifter lore says that if the mark appears, then the couple has been blessed. How blessed were you sister dear, hmm? Dalton’s a big sexy shifter guy, did he hit some home runs?”
“Well… Emma went to say. but again.
“Wait a minute,” Mia interrupted again, “if Emma has this mark and you seem to know all about it, where’s your mark, Rye?”
Emma’s eyes went right to Ryleigh’s wrists, and Mia grabbed them, going for the gold, but there wasn’t a mark in sight. Emma was starting to get nervous, maybe Ryleigh and Jacks weren’t fated like her and Dalton.
“Um… well, you see, claiming marks can happen in several different places, some are just more noticeable than others,” Ryleigh said shyly.
“What do you mean, where is it? I want to see,” Mia said, starting to move Ryleigh around.
No, you can’t!” Ryleigh slapped her hands away playfully when Mia started to tickle her, making her cry Uncle in a matter of seconds. “You can’t,” she said breathlessly again.
“What do you mean I can’t? Ryleigh, don’t you have one?” Mia asked concerned.
“Yeah, I have one, so does Jacks, but listen, like I said, they only happen in a couple of places at the pulse points.”
Mia started to look so did Emma. Nothing was on her wrists or upper arms, nothing seemed to be on her neck. When Mia pushed Ryleigh down and pulled up her pant legs, nothing was there either. Leaving only one place.
“Oh, Ryleigh, Jacks has marked you as close to your hoo-hah as he could, didn’t he? It’s like a big sign that says stay back this is MINE, isn’t it?”
“No, you dork,” Ryleigh laughed, “the fates decide where the mark goes and anyway, if Jacks marked me there, I got him right back. That package is meant for me and only me,” Ryleigh said in a sing song voice. Both Emma and Mia groaned at her poor attempt at humor. Jacks was hot, but it was kind of like thinking about your brother or something now.
Emma really like these ladies. This was fun.
Jacks crashed into the room looking every bit the military profession he was. He wasn’t frazzled or rushed, he had that take no prisoners attitude. Having Kenna strapped to his chest in the baby sling did nothing to diminish the vibe. It should’ve been funny. His dominance was strangling the room, but he was the picture of cool, calm, and collected. Emma was thankful her daughter was in the safest place she could be right now, sleeping peacefully, but the scene did kind of downplay the badass vibe, but only for a second. Emma wonder if Jacks had kept Kenna in the sling with him the entire time or only because he was on the move.
“Listen up, ladies. I need to you follow me. Code Red, we’re on lock down.”
“What, why, what’s going on?” Ryleigh asked getting up from the floor. Of course, Ryleigh would be the one to question Jacks. Mia and Emma had gotten up and started to follow, but Jacks didn’t have time for lengthy discussions right now.
“Listen, that Hamilton fucker has a brother and all indications are he’s on his way here right fucking now. I need you all to get into the safe room, so I can work. Got me?”
Emma was shaking; the Tech’s brother was coming. Who the hell was the tech’s brother? And why was he coming? What the hell! How would the brother even know about her or where she was? None of this made any sense. She’d been so careful and the guys had taken care of the car. How was this guy even tracking her or was he?
“But Jacks are they sure I mean how do they know this guy is even coming here?” Emma asked, not able hold the question back.
“The guys went to the building,” Jacks explained, exasperated the women weren’t doing what he asked, “and it was a total bust, everything had been completely destroyed. They were able to dig up some info at that fuck head’s place. They were combing through the data and making calls trying to figure out what all went down. Cash found the dude’s birth certificate and noticed that he was a twin. He decided to look into the guy and called me to put a trace out. I did, and found out that the fucker is too close for fucking comfort, understand? It turns out that Derrick Hamilton, the other twin, worked at the facility or at least both he and his brother were being paid from the same account.
“I need to get you guys under cover so I can secure the base and dig up anything else I can find while the guys are in route.” Ryleigh went to speak again and Jacks stopped her cold. “No way, listen, this is one of those times when you need to just listen and do what I say. I know you can help, but right now it’s more important you’re safe. Understand?” To everyone’s surprise, Ryleigh just nodded.
“Okay, listen while we walk. The guys are on their way back here right now, but that asshole was tracked just outside of Traverse City. I don’t believe this is a coincidence. We have no idea if his final destination is here, but we need to lock it down just in case, you got me?”
Yeah, Emma got him. If he was on his way to them, she and Kenna needed to get out of dodge or better yet, hide under it.
“Ryleigh, take them to the safe room and shut the fucking door. You know what to do from there, get on the phone to your Dad and tell him we have a code red. I’m going to light this place up. That fucker doesn’t have a chance. Jacks was in the process of giving them more instruction when Ryleigh opened her mouth to speak. Anticipating her protest, he cut her off.
“No! Listen, baby, I’m not going to say this again. I won’t have you or the baby in harm’s way. I won’t put Emma or Kenna in danger. Mia isn’t even involved in this crap. I need to know you’re safe in order for me to do my job without distraction. Right now, we have possibly one human coming onto our land. My bear will rip him apart if he even tries to mess with my family, got me? Now, I need to do my fucking job, and I can’t be splitting my focus. I need you all to be safe. Understand?” Ryleigh nodded her head. Yeah, she understood she just didn’t like it. Jacks released the sling and handed Kenna to Emma, but not before placing a small kiss on the baby’s head.
“Be safe and wait for the signal,” he said before shutting the door.
Emma didn’t even know the lodge had a safe room, but it made sense. She’d never spent much time in Jacks office, but right there, behind the bookshelf, was an entire room. Emma reconciled the need for such a room, they did dangerous jobs, and with the threat to Shifters, they needed a safe place to go if the shit hit the fan which apparently was happening. Emma was thankful for their forethought and the security helped to diffuse some of their stress.
The room was actually bigger then she expected, ten-by-ten, maybe? Just enough room for her to pace, holding her daughter close. To her surprise, Kenna was sleeping as soundly as she had when Jacks was holding her. She must not have sensed the tension. Having a crying baby in close quarters for an indeterminate amount of time wouldn’t have been fun for anyone. Damn, she hoped this was all unnecessary. Maybe the guy was going on vacation or something. Traverse City was a popular place for vacations, right?
The first boom rocked the room. Emma crouched down, trying to remain steady. She watched in horror as Ryleigh ran for the door, frantically punching numbers into the keypad and then trying unsuccessfully to pry it open. Mia pulled her back. Emma was having a hard time trying to contain her little daughter. he had been rattled from her sleep by the explosion and seemed to be spitting mad. The little bundle struggling to get free of Emma’s arms and the blanket she was tangled in. Emma started to rock her back and forth, talking softly, anything she could think of to calm her daughter and thankfully, it worked. Her eyes
were still bright, and she was very alert, but at least she was calm. Emma noticed Mia was having a battle of her own trying to calm Ryleigh.
“No, listen, Ryleigh, I know your man is out there and every instinct you have is telling to you to go to him, but you need to sit your pregnant ass fucking down and protect that life inside you. Jacks has this, the others will be here soon, and you already called your Dad. Let him do his job, Ryleigh,” Mia pleaded.
Emma went to them, holding Kenna in her arms and the ladies held each other, waiting for whatever would happen next.
Chapter 44
The guys made record time getting back to base. Cash flew like the wind and now Dalton was driving as if he were on the Autobahn. s they screamed down the driveway, an explosion rocked the SUV. Dalton had to slam on the brakes to keep the damn thing on the road.
“Fuck, I can’t get a hold of Jacks,” Cash said. “He’s either with the woman or trying to figure out who the hell is blowing holes in our base. My guess would be the latter.”
Dalton was shaking; he needed to get to Emma and Kenna. He had to make sure they were okay. All they had learned was piling up on him, from Emma recounting the events, to seeing them in living color on videos Hamilton kept in his house. There was also a detailed accounting of what the asshole planned on doing to the baby if he could get away with it. He was a sick fucker! Now someone had breached their territory, intent on doing more harm. Dalton wasn’t having it and his bear was even more enraged. The beast was more present than Dalton wanted him to be; in that moment, he needed to maintain his head, but the animal inside was in a frenzy.
The tension in the car increased tenfold. The shift was upon Dalton and if he couldn’t hold it back, it would be dangerous for all of them. If he shifted in the vehicle, he would take the guys out; his bear would go nuts at being trapped. No way a thousand-pound bear could fit in the confines of the SUV without causing major damage. He needed to get out and run, release his beast, and protect his family.
“Fuck,” Ethan yelled. “He’s going to shift.”
Dalton was in that in between state of shifting right before he went bear. He was still human, but barely.
“Get out of the fucking car, Dalton. If you shift in here, we’re all fucking dead, you got me? Get the fuck out! Let him have his scent and track that fucker down!”
Shit, Dalton found it almost impossible to move, his bear was coming and he was doing everything in his power to hold it off. He would shred the car and everyone in it if he turned. With uncontrolled jerky movements, he barely managed to open the door and fall out before the beast had him fully. Uncontrolled shifts were the worst, they hurt like hell and it gave the beast the upper hand.
Cash left the vehicle soon after the big bruin raced off into the woods and addressed the remaining guys.
“Listen up, Dalton is fucking out, his bear is going to drive him to protect Emma and Kenna. We need to keep this as standard as fucking possible, no shifting, use your senses but stay in your human skin; we need our heads right now. We’re all running on assumptions, right now, and we can’t risk the exposure. Now, get to it, our people are in there, and they need our help. Keep your heads together. Start tracking and bring me the fucker’s head who’s messing with what’s ours.”
Ethan, Bas, and Cash all separated off trying to track down the intruder.
Dalton had never been so happy, his beast was a menace at times, and until this moment, the involuntary shift sucked, but his beast was focused. The animal was doing what came naturally, scenting the air for any threat, and he was finding them. He sensed three intruders were on their land. Land all the guys knew like the back of their hands. These assholes were fucked. What they weren’t, was trained. They were leaving tracks all over the place. Either they were stupid, or they didn’t care. The second explosion hit, and Dalton moved faster. This time it was a direct hit. The side of the lodge was charred and some of the places were burning, but the structure was strong. Each log was at least 25 inches in diameter; average log homes only used 10 to 15 inches in diameter. Their home was built to withstand anything, including these fucking puny-assed fireworks.
What puzzled Dalton was the scent the humans were giving off. He could pick out the chemicals from the explosion. He could also pick up the scents from the intruders, but there was something else, it was like they were on drugs or something. They were tainted, all of them.
The first one was easy, the asshole walked right into his path. One swipe of his beast’s mighty claws across the neck, and that threat was neutralized, instantly. The satisfying gurgle he heard as he lumbered away only furthered his bears enjoyment, sick fucker. Dalton didn’t believe in indiscriminate killing, but these people were after his family. They needed to pay and his bear was making them pay with their lives. The second was closer to the lodge, almost at the deck on the lakeside of the lodge. The beast went to charge, but Dalton held him back. Jacks was on him; no way that fucker would make it through to even the next minute.
Continuing to track, Dalton was catching up to the last guy. He wasn’t that far away, but he also sensed that Cash was on him. Dalton wanted the kill. These people came to hurt his mate and his cub. His bear needed to dispense his justice and make things safe for his family. Charging forward, Dalton let out a roar, apprising Cash of his plans. His bear was determined to beat Cash to their prey.
Cash knew what was coming, and he hoped he made it there in time. He could feel the vibration on the ground from Dalton’s bears heavy paws. He couldn’t let Dalton have the man, just yet, they needed answers. He had already seen the results of one of Dalton’s kills. He needed to stop him and quick; dead people didn’t talk. The data they had, right now, meant nothing, only some perverts hopes and dreams, as sick as they were. They had only been able to get through half of what was held in the house.
Making it to the clearing on the side of the lodge, Cash yelled for Dalton to stop, but he was too late, the beast was too enraged. Dalton’s bear didn’t even hesitate taking the fucker’s head off with one swipe of his razor-sharp claws.
Fuck, Dalton tried to calm his bear. The threat had been eliminated, but the beast wasn’t having it. He still wanted blood and it seemed even his teammates were in danger. He could hear his teammates yelling for him to change, but he couldn’t push his beast back. He heard something about bloodlust, but still couldn’t get a handle on the beast. Sensing Cash was about to change, he focused on the big man and the beast deeming him a threat. He didn’t want to hurt any of his teammates, but his beast couldn’t be reasoned with. Emma, he needed Emma; she calmed his bear, but he couldn’t risk that.
Out of nowhere, he was slammed from the side. Looked like Ethan was done waiting around. The fucker was mean, he liked dealing out pain, but his bear was charged. He wanted everyone away from his mate and cub. Bloodlust was upon him, he’d never experienced the phenomenon, but his bear had more control at the moment. He viewed everyone and everything as a threat. It was the only time in a shifters life, besides going rogue, that the animal was in more control than the human. Both bears charged going up on their back legs. Battling as they were meant to, by tooth and claw.
Cash was getting ready to change, he needed to put a stop to this before permanent damage was done. He knew both Ethan and Dalton would regret their actions if he didn’t put a stop to them. But before he could even initiate his change, Jacks came around the back of the lodge dragging a puny little human. The man smelled horrible, it was a mixture of drugs the chemicals from the explosives sweat and urine, not a scent Cash wanted to smell ever again. When Jacks basically threw the fucker at him, he almost cringed like a little girl, holding his hands back.
Jacks faced off against the two bruins fighting to the death and bellowed one word “SHIFT!” The air thickened instantly with his Alpha vibes and all the men fell to their knees. Jacks was forcing Dalton and Ethan to change back. Being an Alpha, he had the ability to force a change in another, it was part of their magic. Every being had
a set of checks and balances, and with the strength of having an animal, there needed to be an even more powerful predator. Those predators were the Alpha’s, on a cellular level they were stronger, more dominate, and commanded the others around them. It was a great responsibility, and Jacks never took it lightly. he’d never had to force the change in his men before, usually their loyalty and respect were enough, not this time. Forcing compliance wasn’t the way he ever wanted to lead. He hated using the power, it was painful and demeaning to the man and the animal to be forced against their will.
Dalton was lying on the ground breathing heavily. He sensed Ethan was close, assumed he was like himself, curled in the fetal position, naked. The pain of being forced to shift couldn’t be easily described; it was like going ten rounds, your hands tied behind your back, with the biggest, baddest motherfucker. Every muscle, bone and tendon hurt from the change, almost like you were forced into a mold which was never going to fit. But the mental part was equally draining, their dominant nature rebelled against coercion, it was instinctive to fight, not comply. Their animals fought the change, prolonging it, stretching the transformation, causing more harm. Dalton was thankful Jacks had done it, he didn’t like being out of control. Hearing stomping, he managed to open his eyes as Jacks came into view, and the man was mad.
“Are you done now, fucker? You think we can get back to our woman and let them out of the fucking safe room or do you feel like going a couple of more rounds? Cuz, I got to tell ya, this time it’ll be you and me, and my bear is itching for a fight, got me?”
Yeah Dalton got him. Ryleigh and his cub had been placed in danger, and Jacks was as hyped up as he was. The only difference, Jacks managed to keep his head where Dalton hadn’t. Dalton could only reply with a weak “No Sir” before dropping his head back down to the ground. It would be a good little while before he was able to gain more strength. Jacks had wiped him out good.
NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team Page 57