Lost in his thoughts, he wandered through the forest.
What is Lucien going to do now?
His nose twitched and he became aware of his wolf stirring.
He sniffed loudly.
The unique mixture of tainted wolf-human scent filled his nostrils.
The convict.
He’s been here.
He sniffed again. This time, the woman’s scent filled his nose.
Quietly he stepped over fallen logs and around thick trunks. His ears strained.
Only the usual sounds of the forest greeted him. Birds chirping, animals braying. Squirrels twittering.
He followed the scent until he reached the bottom of a steep incline. Above him, he saw a dark shadow.
A cave?
He sniffed again.
Their scent was stronger.
I can’t risk the woman’s life. I’ll have to come back with Lucien.
Chapter Seventeen
“Please, Remington. Don’t kill my mate,” Serena pleaded. She would do anything to save his life.
“Why should he be spared?” Remington demanded.
“He protected me when I was abducted. He’s a good man, Remington. He’ll be a great wolf. An asset to our kind.”
“An asset?” Remington scoffed. “He tortured captive wolves.”
“Yes, he did. But it was a wolf who betrayed our kind.”
Remington inclined his head, acknowledging her response.
“He allowed that convict to escape,” Remington added.
“He showed compassion for another changeling. Besides, it appears that wolf has found its mate.”
Remington raised a brow.
“An impotent changeling wolf isn’t a boon, Serena.”
“He’s accepted responsibility for his actions, Remington. And he’s trying to make amends. What else can he do?”
Remington didn’t respond.
The door opened and Robert returned to the living room.
Remington pointed to Robert.
“You defend him even though you know he will never give you children?”
She met Robert’s gaze.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I love him.”
“Baby—I—” Robert couldn’t finish.
She rushed over to him and hugged him tight.
“I know you do. You show me every time you risk your life for me.”
Robert blinked rapidly, trying to get rid of the excess moisture in his eyes.
She caressed his face.
He took her hand and kissed her palm.
“I hate to interrupt such a lovey dovey moment, but what happened with the wolf?” Remington asked.
***
Lucien followed Robert through the forest. Remington walked silently beside him. The smoky scent of the woman’s fear clung to every branch and bush they passed.
Had he misjudged this wolf? Normal wolves would never hurt their mate. But this wasn’t a normal wolf. He was a convict. Would his human side corrupt his wolf, as had Jessup? Or will his wolf be strong enough to protect its mate?
He bit back a snarl.
If he was wrong, he had left an innocent woman in danger.
Robert stopped at the foot of a hill and pointed up to the darkened hole above.
“There,” Robert said.
Remington sniffed loudly. The fear scent was much stronger here.
So was the mating scent.
Remington crossed his arms in front of his chest and waited for him to instruct Robert.
“For now, we have the wind on our side. It’s blowing away from the cave. We should proceed slowly and assess the situation,” he said.
Remington remained silent. Robert nodded and led the way up the small hill.
The cave was pitch black. His wolf eyes adjusted quickly to the dark. Slowly they made their way into the cave. The rocky floor dipped downward. Using their hands to brace against the walls, they descended into darkness.
A rock skittered down, echoing loudly in the tunnel. The silence concerned him.
Why didn’t he hear the woman? Was she hurt?
Unable to speak?
Dead?
The fear scent overwhelmed the mating scent and they hurried along the tunnel.
The tunnel widened and Robert stopped and turned around.
“Which one?” Robert asked.
The tunnel branched into two tunnels.
He sniffed each tunnel. Both reeked of the woman’s fear scent.
Fuck.
He shook his head.
“We’ll have to split up. Remington, you take the tunnel on the left—”
A woman’s scream echoed through the tunnel on the right.
Fuck fuck fuck.
They rushed into the tunnel. This tunnel went up a slight incline then dipped down again. Suddenly, Robert skidded to a stop. He barely stopped before he collided with Robert.
“What—” he glanced at the blackness at Robert’s feet. “—the fuck?”
He peered into the hole. He could barely see a dirty face peering up at him. Terror filled eyes widened and her body trembled. She was sitting on a small ledge, about fifteen feet below them.
Her clothes were dirty. The fresh scent of blood tickled his nose.
He growled. His wolf claws protruded.
If her mate had hurt her, his life was forfeit.
He pushed Robert out of the way and knelt down by the edge of the hole. His eyes adjusted and he saw scratches on her knees and arms, half hidden by dirt and debris.
Probably from the fall.
Pounding footsteps echoed in the tunnel. Across from him, the Convict appeared. Naked and dirty, he stared at them wild eyed. He looked around and saw his mate at the bottom of the hole. He grunted, searching for a way to get down.
The rock walls were too smooth. He wouldn’t be able to climb down.
The Convict fell to his knees and leaned over. His head darted to the left, then the right.
“Don’t,” Lucien commanded.
The Convict’s head jerked up.
She screamed.
A large piece of the ledge had fallen. It hit the bottom of the hole, smashing into smaller pieces.
She yelped and huddled in a small ball.
The Convict groaned. He put his hand against his forehead.
“Take off your shirts,” Lucien commanded as he removed his shirt.
The convict leaped to his feet. His lips pulled back in a threatening grimace. His hands curled into fists. The muscles in his body were tight with tension.
“We need to work fast if we’re going to save your mate,” Lucien said.
The Convict glanced down at his mate, then back up at them.
“Tie the shirt sleeves together to make a rope,” he instructed.
They tied the shirt sleeves together. Robert wrapped one end around his forearm and braced against the wall.
Lucien leaned over the side, holding the rest of their makeshift rope.
“We’re going to get you off that ledge.” He held up the clothes rope. “I’m going to toss this down to you. You need to grab tight so we can pull you up.”
She glanced at her mate and shook her head.
She’d rather die than deal with him?
Fuck.
“I promise, I won’t let him hurt you,” he said.
She shook her head, disbelieving him.
Lucien stood and growled at the convict.
“Back off. Head back into the tunnel so we can rescue your mate.”
The Convict refused to move.
She whimpered.
Another chunk of rock smashed as it hit the ground.
She yelped and the Convict stepped away from the edge. He returned to the darkness of his tunnel.
Lucien could hear the Convict groaning softly.
He leaned over.
“He’s gone. Now take the rope. You don’t have much time.”
He tossed the rope into the hole.
She stared at the Convict’s side. When she didn’t see him, she stood cautiously, pressing her hands against the rocky wall. Once she was standing, he swung the rope close to her.
She reached for the rope. Her fingers grazed the rope before it swung away from her.
He swung again.
She leaned forward too much. Her arms flailed as she tried to regain her balance.
The rope swung away.
Another chunk of the ledge fell. She pressed against the wall.
Fuck.
Her chest heaved. Her ragged breaths echoed in the pit.
“Concentrate,” he said.
She swallowed and he swung the rope. She reached for the rope and grabbed it.
He let out the breath he was holding.
“Wrap it around your forearm and hold on tight,” he instructed.
Nodding, she complied.
“She’s got it. Pull,” he ordered.
Robert stepped back, pulling gently. Remington stepped in front of Robert, gripped the rope and pulled. Lucien leaned over the edge, waiting for her to get within his reach.
She dangled in the hole, spinning as they pulled her up. He stretched down, offering his hand.
“Give me your free hand,” he ordered.
Once her hand was clasped in his, he pulled her out of the pit. She grabbed on to him, holding him tight and burying her face against his bare chest.
Her body shook as she sobbed.
He held her close, rubbing her head in a soothing manner.
Should he tell her not to worry? That her ordeal was over? He couldn’t bring himself to lie to her.
A warning growl echoed through the cave. The Convict had returned to his spot. Nostrils flaring, he glared at Lucien. He punched the wall, grunting and growling. His head darted to the left and right. He glanced up then looked down into the pit.
Robert stepped close to the edge.
“Don’t even think about it,” Robert said. “You won’t make it.”
The muscle in the Convict’s jaw twitched.
“Why doesn’t he say something?” Robert asked. “Is he mute?”
“Perhaps it’s a side effect from Jessup’s serum.”
“You know Lucien has a mate. He isn’t interested in yours,” Robert said.
The Convict paced in the small mouth of the tunnel. He slammed his fist against the wall, turned around, then slammed his fist against the other wall.
“We have to take her out of here,” he said. “No mate should be treated this way.”
The Convict groaned. The pain in his eyes shone brightly in the darkness.
He met Remington’s gaze.
“I don’t want him,” Remington said. “I’ve no use for mutants. He’s not even a fucking half breed.”
He sighed.
Somehow he managed to stand while still holding the blonde.
“Do you know what I am?” he called out to the Convict.
The Convict lowered his eyes. His head dipped slightly.
“Do you accept me as your Alpha?”
The Convict’s head darted up. His eyes widened. He swallowed.
Then he nodded.
“Shift and leap over,” Lucien commanded.
The Convict shook his head. He spread his arms wide.
“Don’t you know how?” he asked.
The Convict shook his head.
“Robert?” Lucien asked.
“Concentrate on your wolf form,” Robert suggested.
The Convict shut his eyes. His forehead wrinkled as he concentrated.
Nothing happened.
He opened his eyes, searching for his mate.
“Then you’ll have to do it in human form,” Lucien said.
The Convict disappeared into his tunnel. They heard soft shuffling then he reappeared. The Convict leaped over the gaping hole in the ground.
He sailed over the hole.
Then his body dropped short before he reached the other side and he fell down the hole. His fingers scraped the wall, dug into the rock and dirt wall.
Robert dropped to the ground and leaned into the pit. With a grunt, Robert pulled.
The Convict’s dirty hair appeared over the edge of the pit.
With Robert’s help, he was soon safely on the tunnel floor.
The Convict scrambled to his feet.
“Stay away from her,” he ordered with a snarl.
The Convict groaned.
“You need to give her a chance to deal with this—situation.”
The Convict’s shoulders sank.
“Robert, escort him back to the Alpha House.”
He picked up the blonde, cradling her against his chest.
“I’m going to take her to the hospital.”
Chapter Eighteen
“If I hear ‘Frosty the Snowman’ one more time—” Officer Tyson muttered. He jabbed the radio button, shutting it off.
“At least we’ll be back to regular music after today.”
Jansen gave him an odd look but kept his mouth shut.
“Dispatch to 7246.”
He contacted Dispatch.
“Tyson here. Over.”
“Tyson, Harvest PD got some information for you about your missing doctor. Over.”
He perked up.
Don’t ruin the rest of my Christmas. I got plans with Maggie tonight.
“Harvest PD? Where the fuck is that? Over.”
“Small town in the middle of nowhere. Apparently your doctor did some cleaning up at a small private hospital outside of town. Several patients are dead and a couple might be missing. Over.”
“What the fuck?”
Dispatch continued, “Harvest PD says the men who died were convicts. Still not sure how they got out of prison and ended up in that hospital. Over.”
“Federal prison? Over.”
He crossed his fingers.
“Yes. It’s no longer your case. The Feds are taking over. Over.”
“Fuck, yeah,” he said.
Jansen gave him a puzzled look.
“Aren’t you pissed the Feds took our case?”
He shook his head.
Rookies. Gotta learn sometime.
“You think the Feds are going to do shit about this case? Christmastime? Fuck no. They’re going to bury this case so deep it will never see the light of day. Nobody cares about these convicts or they wouldn’t have gone missing in the first place.”
Jansen nodded, soaking up his wisdom.
A few more hours and I’ll be balls deep in my sweet Maggie.
He smirked.
Merry Christmas to me.
***
Remington followed Robert and the mutant wolf back to the Alpha house.
The door in the kitchen opened. The stench of urine wafted toward him and he wrinkled his nose. A disheveled man stumbled out of the doorway, his hands bound behind his back. His gag made his terrified pleas incomprehensible. Kane closed the door behind him then guided his prisoner to the living room.
Kane stopped in front of him.
“Sir, this is Steven Ellis. He provided the funds for Dr. Jessup’s operation.”
He snarled.
“Why is he still alive?” he demanded.
“A gift from Lucien,” Kane said.
Ellis’ eyes widened. His muffled protests were ignored by everyone in the room.
“What about the wolf who betrayed us? The Trapper?” Remington asked.
“He’s with Ethan,” Kane replied.
He reached into his jeans pocket and withdrew his keys. He tossed them to Kane.
“Put him in the trunk.”
Kane nodded and dragged Ellis out of the house.
***
“Are you sure this is the place?” Robert asked her.
Serena pulled out the note and read it again.
“This is the right address.” She glanced around. “Isn’t that Lucien’s pickup in the driveway?”
Robert tensed.
She rubbed his back.
Robert looked up and down the street. A few cars drove by but no one else was on the sidewalk.
“Baby, you should go—”
“Robert, we’re mates.” She took his hand then squeezed it gently. “We’ll handle this together.”
He brushed a lock of hair away from her face.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he admitted.
“Too late,” she said with a wry smile. “Let’s just get this over with.”
She pulled him toward the front door.
When they reached the front door, Robert pulled her back. Stepping in front of her, he rang the doorbell.
The door opened.
“Hi,” Lanie said. “Come in.”
Lanie stepped aside and she followed Robert inside.
Lanie closed the door behind them.
She scented Lucien but didn’t see him.
“Come on, I’ll give you a tour,” Lanie said.
It didn’t take long for Lanie to guide them through the cozy home. After showing them the second bedroom, Lanie led them out to the patio.
Lucien stood beside a grill. He flipped the lid up then checked the steaks. He must have decided they were done, because then he shut off the grill.
“I hope you’re in the mood for steak,” Lucien said.
Robert relaxed and replied, “Yes, Sir.”
Had he really expected Lucien to kill him?
“Nothing like steak grilled on an open fire. Helps me think,” Lucien said, tapping his temple.
“Think about what, Sir?”
Lucien tilted his head and replied, “About you.”
Robert swallowed.
She felt a knot begin to form in her stomach.
“Robert, if you were in my position, what would you do?”
It seemed as if hours had passed before Robert faced Lucien and replied, “I wouldn’t punish Serena for what I’ve done.”
Robert took a deep breath.
“I accept my punishment, Lucien.”
He hung his head, waiting for Lucien to finish him off.
Time seemed to slow down as Lucien walked over to Robert. Lucien put his hand on his shoulder then said, “Then it’s a good thing I’m the Alpha.”
Robert’s head shot up.
“Robert, your actions have shown you are a good Soldier,” Lucien said.
“Th—thank you, Sir.”
“I would like to offer you a position in my pack,” Lucien said.
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