by M. D. Grimm
Shannon plastered a smile on her face and took the offered hand. Knowingly touching a shifter, even through gloves, made her skin crawl, and she had to repress a shudder.
“Good afternoon, Sheriff,” she said. “You’re very kind. I’m really enjoying my stay here.”
“I’m glad,” he said. He stepped forward, toward her, and she moved in response. When he moved again, she noticed how agilely he was directing her along the sidewalk, like a border collie corralling sheep. Her heart pounded faster and her mouth dried, but she was determined to play it cool.
“Look, I don’t want to take up your time. You don’t have to show me around—” she said, trying to get away from him.
“Nonsense,” he said easily, moving with her, even touching her back in a friendly manner.
“You came to this town to sightsee, didn’t you?” He turned to face her, and his shades made him look even more menacing.
“Yes, of course,” she said hurriedly.
“Well, I think it’s only good manners that I give you a tour,” he said with humor in his voice.
She was stuck. A few minutes later, she realized the shifter was leading her to the sheriff’s office first.
“Wh-why are we going there?” she asked, cursing the tremble in her voice.
“Nothing important,” he said and opened the door for her. “I just need to check on a few things before I give you the grand tour of our little town.”
He held the door open for her, and she had no choice but to walk in. He walked behind her as she took in her surroundings and realized there were no visible exits except the doors they had just come through. Suddenly, she felt something cold on her wrists, and her skin began to burn. Iron. The shifter had cuffs of pure iron. She gasped and struggled, but the sheriff’s grip on her arms was fierce and solid.
“You are not going to harm anyone in my town,” he whispered harshly into her ear.
Her breath hitched, and memories of a past nightmare came flooding back. She was too scared to fight as he led her down a flight of stairs into a large basement holding various supply items. In the corner sat an iron cage that reached from floor to ceiling with a wooden bench set inside. There was also a toilet and a small sink. It was no more than six feet by six feet. There was a gray carpet on the floor, but Shannon was certain the iron ran along the floor as well—and she could see connecting bars on the ceiling. It was truly a prison for someone like her.
Her wrists continued to burn painfully, disrupting her telepathic abilities, but before he shoved her into the cell, he removed the handcuffs and then shut the cell door. She was surrounded by pure iron and while none of it touched her, she itched. How had he known who she was? She thought she had been so careful. She whipped around and glared, rubbing her wrists, which were now red and blistered.
He took off his shades and fierce silver eyes bored into hers. “I’m the sheriff here, and whatever power you have won’t make it past these bars.”
Shannon realized the sheriff didn’t know her ability. Iron couldn’t restrict her mental communication. But she would not be able to leave without help. She jerked her head around as loud footsteps thumped down the stairs. Another man came into view, and this one also wore shades, but held a cane, which he used to guide himself down the stairs. She glared at both of them and backed away, terrified of what they would do next.
The young woman stared at the iron bars, then glared at Jack with a degree of hatred that startled him. He put the keys into his pocket, her youth catching him off guard. She couldn’t be older than twenty, yet already she had such hatred for them. She was petite with dark skin and long black hair that fell straight and ended halfway down her back. Her eyes were a pale and haunted.
“Are you alone?” Jack asked.
Shannon simply glared.
“Are there others with you?”
“You can’t keep me in here,” she said, her hands bunched into fists. “I know my rights. You have no cause.”
“You have no rights,” Travis said. The knuckles of his hand holding the cane were white. “You lost all your rights when you joined that lynch mob disguised as something noble.”
“What do you know of them?” Shannon spat.
“I know more than you think I do,” Travis said with quiet menace. “Your precious family murdered mine, and they blinded me!”
The woman considered Travis, then her eyes widened as if in recognition. Jack grabbed Travis’s arm and pulled him away from the bars.
“Travis, we don’t know what abilities she has, if any. We must use caution. Control yourself.”
Travis’s chest expanded as he panted. Jack changed his grip to a soothing stroke.
“She smells like them,” Travis growled, his face lowered. “That scent makes me think of the last thing I saw. My family, butchered.”
Jack wanted to pull Travis away, to hug and protect him. But he had a job to do, and part of that job was to swallow his own rage.
“Go home, okay? Let me handle this. I’ll come by later.”
Travis nodded, though his body was rigid and his hands shook. He turned toward Shannon, who Jack noticed was close to the bars, listening. Then Travis spun away from both of them and walked up the stairs and out of the basement.
Jack went back to the cell and Shannon stepped away, her eyes fierce.
“I know who you are,” he said. “But I want to know why you are here.”
She said nothing, turning away and crossing her arms over her chest. Jack regarded her sadly. She was so young, beautiful, and strong. Why did she have to be the enemy? She reminded him of Jena. Her fierceness, her stubbornness. It was easier when the enemy was a faceless entity or a maniacal man. But this girl was being used to infiltrate Haven. She was being used to destroy shifters. If they did kill her, Jack would be the one to do it. And he would hate every minute of it.
“I don’t know what they told you,” he said. “But whatever it was, know this: we aren’t evil, Shannon. We aren’t murderous beasts.”
“Yes you are,” she spat, whirling around so fast her hair slapped her face. “You are all demons, abominations, and our leader will destroy you all!”
Jack blinked at the venom that dripped from every word she spoke.
“I know what you are,” she said, now in a strained whisper. “I know what you monsters do. You rip, and tear, and destroy.” She was breathing hard, but she added with emphasis, “And you need to be annihilated.”
Strangely, Jack saw and heard the same pain and terror from this woman that Travis had expressed when he talked about his own family. And he finally realized why she was so full of hate.
“What shifter killed your loved ones?” he asked gently.
She stared at him, her mouth open in shock. Then she turned away again, covering her face with her hands. He didn’t expect her to answer and she didn’t.
“You know, Shannon, you can’t condemn an entire species because of one bad member,” he said, knowing it was useless but unable to stop himself. “Every species has evil members, destructive and savage, but there are also good ones, kind and generous ones who try to make the world better.”
Shannon lowered her hands but didn’t turn around.
“The shifter who killed your loved ones deserves to be punished. He or she deserves to be put on trial and made to pay for their crimes. But isn’t it irrational to destroy an entire species because of the crimes of one of its members?”
She said nothing and didn’t move. Jack shook his head sadly and walked out of the basement. In the breakroom, he assembled a tray of food. When he descended the stairs, she hadn’t moved. He pushed a thick blanket through a small horizontal opening in the bars and it dropped to the floor. Then he slipped the tray through and used the small hooks on either side of it to attach it to the opening.
Then Jack left her to her thoughts. He felt exhausted and ten years older as he stood by his desk. He remained there for several minutes, digesting what he had learned and wondering what
his next move should be.
“Sheriff?” Rae said after she opened the door and poked her head out of dispatch.
He sighed. He’d briefed everyone about the situation before finding Shannon and intentionally had everyone but Rae out of the building just in case something went wrong. Travis had watched outside for his arrival. “Tell Jena she’s in charge for the rest of the day. I want patrols to continue. We don’t know if there are others. Contact my father and ask for more backup, it’s been cleared. I have some personal things to take care of. Make sure our prisoner is all right while I’m gone.”
He disconnected his radio and set it in the recharger on his desk. Then he left and drove to Travis’s house.
When she heard the sheriff leave, Shannon contacted her commander and told him what had happened. She was annoyed by what the shifter said, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be affected by it. To lose her focus, her determination, to weaken now would be fatal. What the sheriff said was logical, sure. It made sense. But hadn’t she been warned that shifters were demons with smooth and devious tongues? Hadn’t she been warned they would cause her to doubt her convictions and try to lead her from her path? It was what they did.
She was afraid, but felt sure she would be rescued. The Knights, her family, would never abandon her.
“My Lord,” Gregor said, shoving into the office without knocking, something only he could do without causing offense. “The scout I sent to Haven has been captured.”
Arcas, the leader of the Knights, stood before a large window, his hands clasped behind his back, his tall, lean figure brooding.
“The mission has been compromised,” Arcas said softly, his voice velvety smooth. “We must make sure there are no loose ends. The scout has become a liability. I will not have the Agency learn anything from her. Send three grunts.”
Gregor frowned. “Grunts, sir? Surely one of our own deserves—”
“The scout will not return to us, Gregor.” Arcas’s voice became hard as granite. He turned and regarded Gregor with dark eyes lit by an inner light, set in a lean face that looked to be made of stone. Arcas was physically perfect, both strong and handsome, his face and body ideally proportioned, exquisitely symmetrical. There was only one thing that marred this perfection: a long, thin scar that ran diagonally from above his left eyebrow down across his nose to the right side of his chin.
Gregor understood. “She will not be rescued.”
Arcas shook his head. “No. She has served her purpose. She’s reported her observations of Haven, has she not?”
“Yes, sir, but—”
“Silence.” Arcas’s stern voice ended the argument. Then his gaze softened, and he cupped Gregor’s cheek.
“I am sorry. She was a good scout, but this is war. There will be casualties. And she would not want the Agency to learn of our secrets.”
“No, sir. Of course not. You’re right, as always.”
Arcas smiled, transforming his face from an untouchable god to a proud papa. Then he turned to look out the window once more. “Grunts will be adequate. They are guns for hire. They know nothing of the Knights, and so if they are caught….” He shrugged.
Gregor nodded. “There is one more thing, sir. Shannon reports that there was a shifter there, a friend of the sheriff. He is blind, and he mentioned his family had been captured and tortured. He said the Knights had blinded him.”
Arcas started to raise his hand to his face, but lowered it before he touched the scar. Gregor remembered that day, years ago, when a cougar shifter escaped, on the occasion when Arcas himself had come to personally observe the experiments in the lab. They had been testing shifter recovery speeds and healing abilities. The blinding of the cougar had served to see if it could regain its sight.
But the cougar had turned bloodthirsty and fought off his restraints before launching himself at Arcas. One long slice from those nasty claws had marked Gregor’s leader for life. As the blood poured from the wound, everyone had feared they might lose their savior. And that outcome was only narrowly averted.
“Send another grunt,” Arcas said, his voice icy and eerily quiet. “Have them take care of the shifter as well.”
“Yes, sir,” Gregor said, his admiration deepening for his leader. Lesser men would want personal revenge on the beast who had scarred them, but his leader treated the situation as if it were only business. No loose ends. The efficiency of the plan pleased him.
“It will be done.”
“Good.”
Chapter Eleven
Delilah answered Travis’s door with a pinched expression. Jack sighed and stroked her shoulder.
“We’ll make it through this, Del.”
She nodded and glanced behind her before stepping on the porch. “He’s in a state. Haven’t seen the like of it for years.”
Jack nodded. She eyed him.
“You two finally together?”
Jack smiled. “Yeah.”
“Finally! Throw the confetti.”
Jack snorted. “Rooting for us, were you?”
“You have no idea.” She rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Be careful. And protect him.”
“I will.”
She left. Jack watched her cross the street, the home she shared with her two mates, and only turned away when she shut the door. He stepped inside. Travis was sitting on the couch with his face in his hands. Jack walked over and sat next to his mate. He rubbed Travis’s back.
Travis lifted his head, his blank eyes half-closed. “Jack.”
“I’m here.”
Travis sighed. “I was just… I had two sisters and two brothers. Did I ever tell you that?”
“No.” Jack moved his hand soothingly up and down Travis’s back, knowing he needed to talk.
“I was the middle child,” Travis said. “They were my center. My entire world. We moved a lot, alternating between human and animal forms. I liked it best as a cougar. It gave me more freedom.”
Travis turned his head and reached out his hand. Jack took it and gripped it tight.
“Remembering them, remembering just how much I loved them… how much I needed them… I realize that I can’t take you away from your family.”
Travis took his hand back and moved away from Jack. Jack started, his heart racing with fear.
“What are you saying?” he whispered.
“I… love you, Jack,” Travis said tightly. “That’s why I have to let you go.”
“No,” Jack said, protesting even as his heart danced with joy. His wolf didn’t know whether to snarl or yip.
“Yes, Jack. Please don’t argue with me. I will not be the reason you lose your family. I will not have you hate me.”
Jack didn’t know what to do or say. His mind raced frantically, and he had to stand to shake off his panic. Just when he thought he had at least this figured out.
“Damn you, Travis,” he said harshly. “Why are you doing this now? After what you said in my pack’s home? You said you would choose me!”
“I know what I said.” Travis turned away. “But that was before I had time to think about it. Really think about it. Your father pulled us aside so quickly. I didn’t want to back down in front of him. But it’s different now.”
“You’re breaking my heart,” Jack said in a low voice.
“I’m not—”
“You are.” Jack gripped Travis’s shoulders hard. “Travis, I need you by my side, don’t you understand? You have to know I could never hate you.”
“You will.” Travis stood up and shoved Jack’s hands off him. “Don’t you understand, Jack? You will hate me in a year’s time. When we’re banished, you’ll realize you gave up everything because of me! Haven is your home. You love it here. This is where you’re meant to be.”
Jack was speechless.
“I’d rather live without you and just be friends than face that.” Travis’s voice broke and he turned away, stumbling around the couch.
A yawning silence surrounded them. Jack stared
at Travis’s broad back, searching for the right words to convince the man he loved they should be together. All of his own doubt vanished at the very real prospect that Travis might end their relationship. He could imagine banishment, but he could never imagine not claiming his mate. He wanted to become one with Travis.
And Travis loved him. He’d said the words.
“Not when,” Jack said.
Travis turned slightly. “What?”
“You said when we’re banished. It’s not when, but if.” Jack walked around Travis to stand in front of him. “You’re not the only one who’s afraid. But I know we can face my pack. I know we can convince them being mates is perfect for us.”
Travis opened his mouth to speak but Jack interrupted him.
“We have been friends most of our lives,” Jack said. He took Travis’s hand. “And I’ve been in love with you for all of them.”
Travis’s breath hitched, and he gripped Jack’s hand in both of his. Jack stepped closer, enjoying Travis’s body heat. “I’m asking you to not give up on us yet, baby. Your family situation then and mine now are not the same. I don’t see you as coming between us or taking them away from me. It’s their decision whether they love me or their traditions more.”
Jack rubbed his knuckles over Travis’s bristly chin. “And if they love their traditions more than their own son, then there’s nothing I can do about that. I must have you for my mate, and that’s what matters.”
Jack realized as he spoke the words that they were the truth. He would always love his pack, but they would not control him. Not in this area of his life. It was not law, so he felt no need to follow their dictates.
“Jack.” Tears were thick in Travis’s voice. “I’m so sorry, I just… I’m so confused and scared. I don’t want to lose anyone else I love. I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t.” Jack pressed closer to him. “I give you my word that you won’t lose me. Whatever the outcome.”
Travis took a deep breath and fumbled for a moment to find Jack’s face. He traced it with his thumbs. Jack closed his eyes, finding the light touch arousing.