LustUndone

by Holt, Desiree

  “Ric? Ric, I think I’ve got it again.” She forced herself to breathe calmly and slowly. This was not the time to lose control. “I see something moving just at the edge of the clearing around the house. Can you go in a little lower?”

  “I don’t want to scare it away,” he pointed out. “Just trap it and kill it.”

  “Clint and Logan are there now.” Sophia watched the wolves continue to circle the area and picked up the radio, pressing both channel buttons at the same time. “Everyone, I see something. Just a faint shadow but it’s right where the tree line ends. Clint and Logan, pour it on. Chase it into the clearing. Rebecca, call that deputy near you and tell him to stay in his car, too. We’re on this.”

  Her heart was banging against her ribs now with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

  We’ve got it! We’ve got the damn devil beast.

  * * * * *

  Marie clicked off the television set. Nine o’clock. Maybe she’d turn on the television in her bedroom for a little while, but she started her shift at seven in the morning so she needed to get into bed.

  “Want to go out once more, Ike?” She looked at the big dog pacing circles in the kitchen. “Come on. One last trip.”

  But when she went to open the door he hurled himself against her, nearly knocking her to the floor.

  “Ike? What’s the matter with you? Come on. One last potty break tonight.”

  But the moment she approached the door against the dog braced itself on all fours and snarled at her. It was the first sign of aggressive behavior she’d seen in the two years she’d had Ike. Now she frowned at him.

  “What is wrong? You never act like this.” She threw up her hands. “All right, all right. But be warned. I’m not getting up in the middle of the night.”

  The dog pressed close to her as she moved through the house, turning off lights, locking doors, and made her way into the bedroom.

  But still the dog didn’t relax. Finally Marie went into her bathroom, carrying her pajamas. Maybe if she left the dog alone he’d quiet down.

  * * * * *

  “There it is,” Sophia shouted again, pointing. “See it, Ric? It’s moving out into the clearing now. Clint and Logan aren’t far behind it.”

  “I’ve got it.” He banked the helo to swoop in lower. “Put down the binocs and get ready with your rifle. I’m going in.”

  Sophia jacked the round into the chamber and the sound of it was loud even over the noise of the rotors. Making sure her safety belt was securely latched, she pulled the cabin door back and inched to the edge of her seat. Below her she could see two cars—Rebecca already parked next to the house and the deputy just turning into the driveway. And the devil beast now in the clearing midway between the trees and the house, head lifted as if suddenly aware of the helo above it.

  “Hit the lights,” she told Ric as he leveled off at a lower altitude, hovering over the clearing.

  In an instant the spotlight located at the bottom of the helicopter flooded the yard and Sophia stared. In the stark glare of the spotlight every feature of the beast was vividly illuminated. Even the photos she’d seen of the previous beasts they’d killed hadn’t prepared her for the hideous, frightening creature rearing up now on its hind legs. And circling in from the woods, two aggressive wolves, snapping and snarling.

  “Can you take the shot?”

  She heard Ric’s voice in her headphones, thrusting her into awareness.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, do it, damn it, before the thing attacks. Or gets away from us.”

  She braced the rifle against her shoulder and pulled the trigger once, twice, three times. Each shot was dead on, the creature flinching as the bullets pierced its strange-looking hide. At the sound of the shots Rebecca and the deputy left their vehicles and raced toward the lighted area, holding their own rifles. They stopped just beyond the light and fired at the devil beast, now lying on the ground.

  Just for good measure Sophia pumped three more shots into it and watched until she was sure it was still. And watched even longer as Rebecca emptied the rest of her clip into the creature.

  “Well, that definitely should do it.” She sighed wearily. “Okay, Ric. Take us down. And get on the horn to Craig.” She pressed the radio talk button. “Logan? Clint? Get your asses back to the motel, pick up a vehicle and hurry on back here.”

  She watched the two wolves circle the area once more before they sped off through the trees.

  Even before they landed Ric radioed Desolation Ranch. Sophia heard him tell Mark, who was manning the comm center, to get hold of Craig and tell him to start pulling his strings. By the time they were on the ground Mark had radioed back that the special helicopter Craig used for retrieval was already in the air with the project scientists on board. And Craig himself was calling both the head of the Maine State Police and the governor.

  By the time they set down near the house there were a number of people in the yard. Marie Arquette, drawn by the noises in her yard, had ventured out onto her back porch, a large collie leaning against her, trying to push her back into the house. She took one look at what was lying in her yard and passed out. Rebecca managed to revive her and had to half carry her back into the house herself. The deputy who’d arrived with Rebecca had taken a look and vomited everything in his stomach before pulling himself together to radio in what had happened.

  Another patrol car had arrived and shortly after that a van with the crime scene techs and the SUV with Clint and Logan. Rebecca was talking in low tones with both of the deputies, while Sophia stood to the side with her team members. The shock on the faces of the sheriff’s men was plainly evident.

  Sophia could relate to that. It wasn’t easy seeing a nightmare come to life.

  Well, the devil beast was dead. Again. They’d made sure of that.

  But we haven’t found Melinda. So this means it isn’t the end of it. The hunt is still on.

  Deliberately Sophia pushed the thought away. There’d be time enough to haul it out when she returned to Desolation Ranch.

  This Chupacabra’s appearance was even more horrific than the others they’d seen. The human-looking arms and legs had elongated hands with long, razor-sharp claws. The body looked as if constructed of layers of armor. And the head. Sophia couldn’t even find words to describe the awful apparition. This one was more bizarre than the ones the Night Seekers had killed previously. The ones Craig Stafford had flown back to his secure lab where his scientists still worked to determine the genetic origins. And the odor of turpentine was so strong it stung her nostrils.

  This was the first one Sophia had seen outside a photograph and she was sure she’d have nightmares for a very long time.

  Bobby and the other detectives on the team arrived, stunned at what greeted them, barely able to accept what they saw.

  “I owe you an apology,” he told Sophia in a shaky voice. “I swear to god, I’ll never doubt anything again no matter how farfetched or absurd it seems.” He took a last horrified look and walked with her to the edge of the clearing, leaving the shaky crime scene techs to take pictures.

  “It’s all right,” she told him. “I understand how difficult it is for someone to accept something this bizarre.” She pulled up the collar of her jacket to protect her ears from the cold. “I’m just happy I can tell my brother and sister-in-law that their nightmare is over.”

  “You think it is?”

  She nodded. “I think this area is no longer in danger. This is the second time the devil beast has hunted here. I think it’s done with this region for a long time.” I hope.

  “So what now?” he asked. “No way are we equipped or capable to handle something like this.”

  “Our boss is calling your boss as well as the governor to tell them Night Seekers will be taking care of everything.”

  “The governor’s already up to speed, right?” Bobby asked. “Otherwise how do you explain something like this?”

  “Craig Stafford gave him all the de
tails when he requested permission for us to come up here and stick our noses into your investigation.”

  Bobby shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m sure the man was more than happy that someone else will be dealing with this.”

  Sophia nodded. “Besides, Stafford’s been doing the lab research on these creatures and has a helicopter specially fitted out for transporting the carcass,” she told him. “It’s already on its way.”

  They all stood silently while the crime scene photographers, tiptoeing gingerly around the body of the beast, took pictures of everything.

  Sophia looked up at Bobby, standing beside her, still pale and shaken. “When your guys are through just throw a canvas over the, uh, remains. Ric, Rebecca, Clint, Logan and I will stand guard until the scientists arrive to retrieve it.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair. “We need to get something to our public relations officer. Jesus, if the media gets hold of this…” He shook his head disbelievingly. “I saw it and I still can’t accept it.”

  Ric, who had been standing by the chopper with his cell phone clapped to his ear, snapped the phone shut and walked over to them in time to catch the tail end of the conversation. “Stafford worked all that out with the governor. But what about the sheriff?”

  “I already called him,” Bobby said. “When I got here I sent him photos from my phone. He doesn’t want to touch this at all, believe me. I don’t think he’ll sleep very well after seeing what I sent him. So just do your thing.”

  “And get out of here, right?” Sophia grinned weakly.

  He shifted uncomfortably. “You know, under other circumstances—”

  “It’s okay, Bobby. We’re good here.”

  I just hope this puts an end to it.

  But she didn’t give voice to her thoughts.

  * * * * *

  What with one thing and another it was almost nine o’clock in the morning by the time the three Night Seekers and Clint dragged themselves back to the motel. The night had played out like the remnants of some horror movie. Rebecca and Logan left to get breakfast, Ric crashed in his room to get some shuteye before flying them home in the helo. That left Sophia and Clint standing in her motel room, looking at each other.

  “I have to go,” she said bleakly. “Back to Texas. Today.”

  “I know.” He pulled her into his arms. “So let me ask you something. That’s a pretty big helicopter you guys have. Think it’s got room for one more passenger?”

  “What?” She tilted her head back and looked up at him in astonishment. “Are you saying you want to ride back with us to Texas? Like, for a visit?”

  “Maybe for more than that.” He ran his hands up and down her back, his touch soothing after so many hours of stress. “Maybe to stay there. What do you think? Would I fit in with the team? Your friends?”

  “Absolutely. Especially since most of them are also shifters.”

  “Good, because I have a little plan to discuss with you later.”

  “A plan? But…what about your life here? What about Frenchy?”

  “Frenchy’s back to normal. He doesn’t really need me anymore. There’s nothing to hold me here except him and we’ve already talked about this.” He cupped her chin in his palm. “We’ve both waited a long time for me to find my mate. Surely you didn’t think I’d let you get away that easily, did you?”

  “Oh, Clint!” The emotional enormity of what he was saying swamped her. She wrapped her arms tightly around him as if he might suddenly disappear.

  “B-but your home,” she stammered. “Here. What about—”

  He touched his finger to her lips. “Home for me is where you are, chere. Things have a way of working out, you know.”

  A warm rush of happiness engulfed her. “Do you know that you suddenly made me happier than I’ve been in a long time?”

  “Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

  Before she could say anything else his mouth found hers in a scorching kiss and she sank into the warmth of him. He was right. This was home.

  Epilogue

  Sophia opened her eyes slowly, awakened by the sun streaming in through the window. Her body felt fully sated after a night of incredible lovemaking with Clint and she smiled as she remembered the erotic hours in his arms. They’d made love in ways she hadn’t even dreamed possible. She reached out her hand now to touch him but he wasn’t next to her. The bed was empty.

  “Clint?”

  A soft growl answered her. She looked down to see a huge black wolf curled comfortably on the rug next to the bed and she laughed.

  “Have you already been out playing with your new friends?”

  Another growl and the wolven lips curved in what she was sure was a smile. She was so grateful at the ease with which the Night Seekers had accepted Clint and taken him in as one of their own. The night after they arrived he’d run with the others and she knew some kind of bonding had occurred.

  “Well, playtime’s over,” she told him. “We’re all having breakfast together this morning and Craig Stafford’s going to call so get your act together.”

  The air around the wolf shimmered and in an instant Clint stood before her gloriously naked.

  “Are you sure playtime’s over?” He sat on the edge of the bed, pulled the sheet down and cupped her breasts.

  “Yes.” She batted at him. “Business first, buddy.”

  He frowned. “Am I already losing my appeal?”

  Sophia laughed. “After fucking my brains out last night you can ask that? Come on. Maybe I’ll let you frolic in the shower a little but we’ve got to get dressed.”

  “If we frolic we’ll never make it to breakfast,” he told her. “But tonight…” He let his voice trail off and winked at her.

  Heat crept over her body. “Tonight,” she nodded.

  It was a rare moment when all the Night Seekers and their mates were eating breakfast together at the huge table in the sunny kitchen. But Logan, Sophia and Clint had arrived in the middle of the night and the past forty-eight hours had been fractured what with wrapping up details of the situation in Maine and pulling together the report for Craig.

  “I think a meal together would be good,” Ric said and set the alarm in the comm center to notify them if a message came through from Craig Stafford. Anything else could wait.

  Sophia looked around the table. Victory had been a brief celebration. Every person sitting here was well aware that this wasn’t finished. Twice before they thought they’d killed the devil beast only to have another one appear. Silently they agreed that there had to be a breeding ground somewhere and they’d never be able to rest until they found it. And destroyed it.

  And found Melinda.

  No one said it aloud but Sophia knew everyone was thinking it.

  But in the meantime life continued as normally as possible, under the circumstances. With two Night Seekers now married and the possibility of more of them mating in the future, Craig Stafford was continuing to build individual housing for the couples. Originally Jonah and Dakota Grey had lived in an expanded wing but as Craig had pointed out, “You can only enlarge a house so much.”

  So they ate to the sound of hammers and power tools in the area beyond the main building. Clint had been welcomed as easily as Dakota and Chloe, especially since it meant adding another shifter to the ranks.

  The big surprise for Sophia was Clint’s announcement to her the night before about his plans. Just moments ago he’d shared it with everyone else.

  “The military was good to me,” he told everyone then looked at Sophia. “I earned damn good pay and hardly spent any of it. When I knew Sophia was my mate and that I had to be wherever she was, I started surfing the internet. There’s a bar for sale in the little town near the ranch. And the bar business is what I know.”

  “You telling us you plan to buy it?” Ric asked.

  Clint nodded. “Maybe your boss could help me through all the paperwork and licensing?”

  “No problem. I’ll get on
it with him as soon as we finish breakfast.”

  He reached for Sophia’s hand and smiled down at her. “And one more announcement. Sophia and I plan to be married just as soon as we can get that paperwork taken care of.”

  Both pieces of news were greeted with cheers and jubilation. Everyone pushed back from the table and began hugging Sophia and shaking Clint’s hand. But then a sharp warning bell cut through the noise of the celebration.

  “That’s a call coming in,” Ric said. “Probably from the boss.”

  They hurried into the comm center and gathered around the big screen while Ric answered the video call. In a moment Craig Stafford’s face filled the screen.

  “Good morning, everyone. I understand we have a new addition to our growing family.” He smiled. “Sophia, congratulations. And Clint, welcome to the team.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Clint said into the mic Ric indicated. “We plan to be married as soon as possible.”

  “Excellent. Let me know when you have a date and I’ll be there.”

  “Clint’s going to need your assistance with a little project, too.” Ric went into detail about the proposed purchase of the bar.

  Craig nodded. “No problem. Get all the information together, Clint, and Ric will hook us up with a video call. Happy to do it.”

  “Thank you,” Clint repeated. “I really appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure. It will be nice for the team to have a place to hang out and relax and not feel uncomfortable.”

  “Thank you again.” This from Sophia.

  “Good job in Maine, all of you. My scientists are working on the body as we speak and I’m hoping to have new information before too long. But you all realize the truth of the situation, right?”

  “That there are more of them and they’re breeding somewhere,” Jonah said finally. “Or someone’s breeding them.”

  Sophia nodded. “I’d say that’s apparent. There has to be a pack of them, and what an unholy thought that is. But we’ve had all these kills and we’re still not finished.”

  “Any idea how and where these creature might be reproducing?” Sam Brody asked.