by Kim Schubert
The guns went first, ripped from trigger-happy fingers. Logan felt a bullet pass through his shoulder.
He grunted, “Iron.”
“We didn’t expect you here. He told us we were invisible,” one shooter stuttered out.
Logan raised one caramel eyebrow. “Who is he?” He didn’t have Olivia’s penchant for killing first and asking questions later.
The second shooter’s hand itched to the holster on his hip.
Logan snapped his neck with one hand, careful to pull the bones away from his shoulders.
The first shooter peed himself. “Who is he?” Logan repeated.
“Our — our —— our alpha,” the shooter whispered, turning his shocked gaze back to Logan. “He said you were weak, not worthy to lead us.”
Logan grunted, “How many others are here?”
“I — I don’t — I don’t know, our main forces are at the base in Kansas, preparing for an attack against your home, once you move the whore.”
Logan snapped his neck as well.
“No one calls my mate a whore,” he told the dead bodies. A quick glance told him nothing of value was stored up here. Aside from the two men and guns, they had a card table, chairs, and beer. Logan headed back down.
Jerry was waiting for him, bent over and breathing heavily. “Your boy here is an idiot.”
“They were iron bullets,” Hudson shrugged.
“Next time, Jerry, don’t save him. He is an alpha, he can make his own poor decisions,” Logan rumbled.
Jerry straightened up, shocked. Hudson’s mouth was hanging open.
“I didn’t ask for help,” Hudson tried.
“No, you didn’t, but we are going into the enemy’s lair. How valuable are you to me if you are shot up and need help?” Logan turned the fierceness of his gaze on him.
Hudson squirmed, “I wouldn’t be.”
“Exactly.” Logan turned, stalking toward the building. He could hear people whispering, high and frightened. When he got to the door he paused, drawing a breath. He wanted to kill them all, fuck the conscience beating against him.
Olivia might call herself a cold-blooded killer, but he disagreed. She never killed anyone who didn’t deserve it. She was the protector of the weak, and those in this building were exactly that. That didn’t make them harmless, though.
“Listen and listen well. I am Logan, Alpha of the Shifters across the United States. Your leader has lied to you. If you choose to follow him, we will kill you. If you attack any of us, we will kill you.”
“So join or die is our only option?” a teenager called out.
Logan’s frown was deep. “Yes.”
“Some of us didn’t ask for this,” tried an older voice.
“It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. You are part of the packs now, either in life or in death.”
Logan heard the muttering before he kicked the door in. All the adrenaline, excitement and fear in the air hit his beast hard. He growled, letting his lion seep into his eyes.
“Attack!” cried someone, and the entire room was moving. The first wave came at him in their human forms. Fodder for the slaughter. Logan’s frown seemed permanently etched onto his face as he gutted one, throwing him against the wall before the next one came after him. They couldn’t control their shifts, their animals demanding freedom from the cages inside of them.
Logan let his beast free, his back and hips changing shape as he went from walking on two legs to prowling on four. Long claws tapped against the carpeted floor. He threw his head back and roared; the Alpha had arrived.
Next to him a wolf stepped forward, careful to keep Jerry, who was muttering incantations, behind him. A large russet water buffalo stood on Jerry’s other side. Hudson was handy to have in a fight, if for no other reason than that he was a massive shifter. Dumb, but massive.
Logan howled into the contained space before snapping his jaws at the foolish wolf shifter who tried to attack him. The crunch of bones in his mouth brought his beast joy. He spat what remained of the wolf out before charging after the next fool.
They were untrained and it was a slaughter. After watching their fellow wolves die bloodily and quickly, a few of them banded together, circling around Logan, who had pushed forward into their numbers.
Wolves were pack animals, after all. Logan’s tail twitched and he waited for the attack, it was going to happen by his flank. He wasn’t worried about these numbers, there was a reason he was the Alpha.
He watched the other wolves in front of him. When their attention shifted behind Logan, he spun, landing his fangs in the neck of the attacking wolf. Logan shook his head, separating the head from the body. He felt the warm blood dripping from his chin and he smiled before snapping his jaws.
The rest of the wolves attacked together. The last stand. Logan took a hit to his left flank, teeth and claws sinking in deep. He kicked back, dislodging the attacker. Once his back leg landed again, he reared back, swiping at the three wolves in front of him with massive paws. They were thrown forcefully back.
Logan turned his attention to the wolf who had reattached at his flank, peering over his shoulder at the young animal. He was scrawny, even in his wolf form, and Logan knew he couldn’t be much past puberty. While it pained him, he turned, throwing the attacker off again. The wolf landed on his side, snarling up at Logan. Logan crossed the short distance, using his paw to crush the youthful skull with only his body weight.
At least it was quick. It was the only mercy Logan could grant.
“Logan, here,” Jerry called out.
He looked around the large room, finding Mark and Hudson handling the few remaining shifters. He followed Jerry’s voice.
“It’s okay, no one is going to harm you,” Jerry kept repeating.
Logan passed through the doorway, his gaze riveted to the hunched figure in the corner. Without thinking, he shifted back.
“What’s going on?” he asked Jerry.
“Children,” Jerry whispered on an exhale, looking desperately up at Logan. “No one attacked me. She’s trying to protect them.”
Logan nodded, his nakedness forgotten as he squatted down next to the terrified brunette. Her face was hidden beneath her arm, but a pair of dark brown eyes looked up at him curiously.
“Did you hear my decree?” Logan asked.
The woman nodded. “Please don’t take my baby from me. Please don’t hurt him.”
Logan moved back. “No one is taking your child from you. I don’t have any plans to harm either of you. You haven’t attacked me, so unless you have plans of doing it later, I see no reason why we can’t help you.”
He waited for those words to sink in. He had been with Olivia when she coaxed people out from hiding before. While he lacked her ability to give the woman the feeling of safety, he knew Olie always waited, said their overworked brains had a hard time focusing on words at first.
Logan repeated himself. The woman’s tremors subsided slightly. The little boy darted away from her.
“Don’t let him into the other room!” Jerry cried out.
Logan caught him easily enough, swinging him into his arms. He expected fear, but instead the boy reached down and started pulling on his chest hair. Logan huffed, amused. He would be an alpha, Logan had no doubt.
The woman stood, her hands outstretched, as though any sudden movement might end the child’s life.
“Is there another door?” Logan asked her.
She blinked at him, her gaze never leaving her child, before lowering her arms. “Yes, back through the kitchen.”
The little boy leaned his arms out to his mother and Logan handed him off.
“Jerry, go with them. I want to check on Mark and Hudson,” Logan commanded.
Jerry nodded, guiding them away from the bloody scene Logan walked back into.
Hudson had shifted back, looking down as a long gash healed on his side. “I don’t suppose anyone thought to bring a change of clothing,” he muttered.
&nb
sp; “In the SUV,” Mark groaned, cracking his back before stepping outside.
“What did Jerry find?” Hudson asked as Logan came even with him.
“A woman and her child,” Logan answered.
Both of their gazes ripped to him. “They’re still alive,” Logan reassured. “He is bringing them around through the kitchen, so let’s get something on before they catch up.”
Mark threw a package of baby wipes from Jerry’s discarded messenger bag at each of them. Hudson raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
Mark shrugged. “Tell me it won’t be easier checking into a hotel room without blood smeared all over us.”
Hudson shrugged. Logan knew it was a trick Mark had picked up from Olie. It worried him that Hudson had never encountered the problem. He needed to get someone covering the West immediately. He didn’t relish other surprises waiting for him.
Jerry came around while Logan was pulling off the tags from his gray sweatpants. They were a little snug and very short.
Jerry laughed, “Sorry there, big boy, that’s all the store had.”
Logan grunted, “I appreciate the forethought. Are there car seats here? He is going to need one.”
The little boy’s mother looked up at him, shocked. “No, they didn’t let us leave.”
Logan growled lowly and the woman backed away. Jerry sent him an annoyed glare before talking soothingly to her again.
“Where are you from?” Logan asked.
She looked at him, startled, before looking away again. “Vegas.”
Logan nodded. “I’d like you stay in St. Ann for a while until your control of your beast improves and you feel comfortable traveling home, being around family.”
She looked at him for longer than a moment this time. “What?” she whispered. “I can go home?” she asked breathlessly.
“Of course, once you learn control.”
She nodded, her entire body relaxing, a giggle pressing from her lips. “Thank you, thank you so much.”
They sat the mom in the middle between Hudson and Jerry. Logan drove to a motel Jerry had picked out.
“I’m calling for room service,” Jerry announced, dialing his phone.
“We don’t have room numbers yet,” Mark teased.
“I’ll handle it. The usual?” Jerry asked. “Pasta, pizza, and the entire—“ His voice cut off abruptly.
Logan knew what he was going to say, the entire dessert menu. Olie’s favorite.
“Order it, Jerry, the kid will like it,” Logan uttered, refusing to give in to his turbulent emotions.
“What did I miss?” Tommy’s sleepy voice came over the speakers.
The woman yelped, holding her son close.
“We raided Nebraska, but the main forces are going to be in Kansas,” Logan began. “We were able to save one adult and one child.”
“Okay, you need me to arrange transportation for them? I think Alec was in your area.”
“How do you know that, Tommy?” Hudson asked.
“The same way I know you like bustyAsianbeauties.com,” Tommy muttered.
Jerry laughed hysterically. “Oh, I needed that.”
“Stay off my computer,” Hudson growled.
“Make me,” Tommy answered. Logan had a hard time not smiling, thankfully Tommy couldn’t see him.
“Oh, I’ll be back,” Hudson threatened.
“You can’t touch me,” Tommy confidently stated.
“I guess we will see,” Hudson growled.
“Bring it, bitch.”
Logan pulled under the hotel overhang.
“Tommy, get ahold of Alec and let us know the results. We are at the hotel now,” Logan interrupted.
“Got it. Tell Hudson the girl he has been texting just received his browsing history.”
“WHAT?” Hudson yelled.
Logan laughed, “That will teach you.”
“Fuck! The kid is right, he’s untouchable,” Hudson grunted.
“You can touch him,” Logan heard Mark comment as he walked to the sliding door into the hotel, “but Olivia will kill you.”
“I know,” Hudson grunted.
The warm air from the lobby hit Logan and he inhaled the sweet smell of coffee. The girl behind the front desk licked her lips, letting her eyes rove over his bare chest and tight sweat pants.
“Hi,” she perkily greeted.
“I need three rooms for tonight,” Logan began, pulling out his wallet. At least he’d had the presence of mind to take it out of his ruined pants.
“Sure, I just need an ID,” she chirped. “How are you doing tonight?” she added, grinning up at him.
Logan looked at her, her dyed platinum blond hair perfectly styled, her heavily made up eyelids with purple accenting her brown eyes. She smiled up at him, noticing his attention to her coral lips. He couldn’t deny she was beautiful.
“I’m well, how are you doing?” he answered, giving her a small smile.
“I’m great now.” She held his gaze for a moment before returning to her typing.
He would have invited her to his room before Olie, but now those sea green eyes and feisty smile were the only things he ever wanted in his bed.
Logan leaned on the counter, taking the room keys.
“Thanks, actually can I get four rooms?” Logan amended. He didn’t want to share a room with Hudson.
“Yeah, no problem.”
“And is there a room service order?”
She laughed, the sound wasn’t unappealing. “Yeah, you ordered the entire dessert menu?”
Logan rubbed his temples. “Yeah, that was us.” He gave her a half smile, noticing her eyes dilating and scenting her attraction. Man, he wasn’t even trying to flirt.
She slid the last card over. “Feel free to call if you need anything. I’m off in an hour.”
Logan smiled, “I’ll do that, thanks.” He’d have Hudson call, the boy needed to get laid.
Back in the car, Logan drove around to the back entrance. Only Jerry and Mark had bags. He handed out room cards, “Hudson, you should call the front desk.”
“Why’s that?” Hudson asked.
“Just do what the man said,” Jerry groaned, rubbing his forehead.
“Why?” Hudson repeated.
“Man, you are dense,” Mark grunted, picking up his and Jerry’s bags and heading inside.
“What am I missing?”
“She was picking up on Logan. Since he’s taken, he’s sending her your way,” Jerry told him, climbing the stairs to their rooms.
Logan stopped in front of the room sandwiched in the middle. “This is your room. I’m to the left, Mark and Jerry to the right, and Hudson across the hall,” he told the female and her child.
“You aren’t staying with us?” she asked, swiping her card. Logan opened the door for her while she held her son.
“No, I want you to trust us. We are only offering to help you, to make you part of our packs. Your safety is our prime concern. Anything happens, just yell and we will come.” Logan met her eyes for most of that statement. She was going to be an alpha, too.
He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. “Whatever you need. The food will be delivered to—”
The elevator dinged and Logan heard the cart coming down the hall.
“My room!” Jerry called out. “So come on over!”
She smiled. “Let us get washed up and we’ll be there.”
Logan nodded. “Do we have any other clothing?” he asked Mark.
“Nope, sorry, we can hit a store in the morning for everyone.”
Logan nodded, smelling the steaks on the cart.
“I think I’ll skip washing up,” Logan smiled.
“What’s your name?” he asked gently.
“Patti, and this is Dillion.”
Logan nodded.
…
The morning arrived with me staring at the dying light of our fire. I sat up, rubbing the stiffness out of my limbs before finding a bush to do my
business in.
When I got back, Doyle was up and handing out breakfast, you guessed it, bread and cheese. Ugh.
“What’s next?” I asked when The Magician sat up, finally.
“Good morning to you, too,” he grunted.
My patience was done. “We have the griffin feather, the shadow lark, what else is needed?”
My father sighed, “You have your mother’s patience.”
I grunted, “I am nothing like her or you. What I am I have forged for myself.”
He was silent after that response. I was being harsh. I could see that, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Hating him would almost be easier than entertaining the idea of forgiving him.
Eventually, he blew out a long breath. “We have three more things to gather. The next from the unicorns, the second from the high desert, and the third from your mother.”
I grunted, rubbing my forehead. “Seriously, the shit from The Queen is going to be the most difficult.”
“I had expected it to be the easiest, honestly,” he admitted. “I didn’t expect anyone to find out about you. I held her favor highly.”
“At great risk to yourself,” Doyle added.
I huffed, “I’m not surprised. Your magic would feed her for a while.”
He jerked his gaze to me and I plowed ahead. “I’m not stupid. I recharge from sex, it must sustain her as well.” And possibly be how she soul sucks.
He shrugged, clearly not wanting to get into it. “It isn’t her fault what she needs to survive.”
“Agreed, but how she chooses to go about getting it is her fault. Something she did caused the witches to shove all of the succubi and their supporters into a separate dimension.”
His lips thinned. “As if you know ANYTHING about that!” he roared at me.
I snarled, “I don’t need to! She has proven her inability to care for her people. What more is there to know? She has one job! ONE! To protect her people. She has failed in that. Only her power allows her to keep her throne.”
“Your Alpha does the same.”
I scoffed, “My Alpha protects the packs. Yes, he keeps his title because he is the most powerful shifter around. But do not mistake power for leadership. If he didn’t have both, he would have been removed. Because on Earth we believe in taking care of our own! You have no right to judge me. You sold me!” I hissed my last words, hatred seeping from me.