by Davis, Lia;
“You okay?” Shay asked from behind her as they walked down the hall to the living room.
Ana shrugged. “Just thinking of Nigel and Sable.”
“From what I hear, Sable is a survivor. Plus, Jared will go after her,” Cameron stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
When they sat on the sofa, Ana studied the Alpha female. “How can you be so sure?”
It was Shay who answered. “They’re true mates. Jared will not rest until he either kills her or mates her again. And since killing her would be more painful than cutting the bond, he’ll mate her, eventually.”
That would be something Ana wanted no part of, but she did want them to find some peace. Especially for Nigel’s sake. “I guess.”
“Once you find a mate, you can’t rest until you have him or her.” Cameron frowned. “I should know. I tried to run from mine for so long.”
Shay covered Cameron’s hand. “You were waiting for your third.”
A slow smile formed on Cameron’s lips. “Yes, and now I have him.” She focused on Ana for several moments. The slow curl of the female’s lips made Ana want to crawl under a rock. “I see that Kieran has come to his senses.”
“I’m confused,” she admitted, unsure how she felt about being mated. It was wonderful, yet she felt like something was off. Like Kieran was still holding back. Or maybe she was. “I guess I was expecting the bond to be stronger.”
The two females glanced at each other before Cam spoke. “Maybe you haven’t fully accepted him, or both of you are holding back.”
Ana’s belly soured at hearing her sister-in-law speak the words out loud. Dread rolled inside her. Had she pushed him to mate before he was ready? Hell, she didn’t even think she was ready.
“Maybe,” Ana said softly.
Shay patted her hand before giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’ll click, and when it does you’ll want to lock herself up with him for a month or so.”
The three of them burst out laughing, and some of Ana’s tension melted away. She opened her mouth to reply, but her phone chimed. Glancing at the message from Kieran, she frowned, then stood. “Thanks for the talk.”
After giving each of them a hug, Ana took her time walking to her and Kieran’s home a few blocks down the main dirt road running through Ashwood. When she entered the house, she found Kieran waiting for her with two backpacks and her thigh holster.
“What took you so long?”
She set her jaw and stared for a long moment. “You didn’t say it was urgent. In fact, you said tonight. The sun doesn’t set for two hours.”
He tilted his head, his gold eyes darkening slightly. “What’s wrong?”
If he didn’t know… “Nothing. Let’s go.” She snatched one of the packs and the holster from him, walked out of the house and climbed into his truck.
When he locked the front door and turned to her, he glared and worked his jaw. Let him be mad. She didn’t care.
He climbed into the truck and faced her. “We’re not leaving until you tell me what the fuck I did now.”
“It’s nothing you did.” When he didn’t move to start the engine, she sighed. “I’m just not sure how I’m supposed to feel right now.”
Reaching out, he caressed her cheek. He leaned into her and spoke softly. “We are so used to keeping each other at a distance that we are still doing it. After we check out the camp, we’ll go somewhere. Just you and me.”
Hope and surprise bloomed within her, sparking her leopard’s attention. Studying his handsome face, she smiled, then closed the small gap between them to press a kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”
Kieran had always known what she needed, and until that moment she didn’t understand how. They were mates. Even before the bond, she too sensed his desires on the rare occasions he let his guard down. With the mating bond in place and growing stronger every moment, she felt his needs as her own.
“But I can’t go away, not now.” She pulled away to glance out the window. Worry for Sable surfaced, darkening her mood a little more. She itched to go with Hayden and his group to the place Brenna and Bryce had found the day before. Ana wanted to take out the mutants guarding the building that held Sable.
“After this is over, then.” Kieran started the truck and pulled out of the driveway.
Several miles outside of Ashwood, Ana began to grow edgy. She couldn’t explain why. It was like the forest around her possessed an eerie magick, or a dark presence. “We will have backup, right?”
“Yes. I spoke to Donovan this morning and his source said things in the camp had changed. He didn’t go into details, but I figured it wasn’t for the better. Tanner and Kirk will meet us there.” Kieran gripped the steering wheel a little tighter as if sensing the same darkness she had.
“Good.” From what she knew of the sentries, they were lethal. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
He covered her hand with his. “So do I. That’s why I have a few sentries on standby.”
She wasn’t surprised, but it still didn’t ease her nerves. Something, or someone, was watching and waiting. The inky, dark sensation crawled over her skin and became heavier the closer they got to their destination.
For the first time in her life, Ana was prepared to unleash her power and call on the magick running in her veins. She didn’t only have her life to protect, but her mate’s and her den’s. No one was going to take it away. She’d die first.
Chapter Sixteen
Jared worked his jaw as he stared into his son’s eyes, challenging the boy to go against him. Apparently, his son was as hardheaded as him. The blue in Nigel’s eyes darkened briefly before he dropped his shoulders and turned his back to Jared.
“Your mother sent you here to be protected.” Jared took a slow, calming breath. His chest ached. Seeing his son hurting was almost too much because Jared understood the pain in Nigel’s eyes and the sense of loss rolling off the boy.
Without glancing at him, Nigel straightened his spine. “She’s my mother, and I want to help get her out of there.”
“She’s my mate.”
The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could rein them in. However, they were effective in drawing a narrow-eyed glare from his son. Nigel faced him and pointed. The kid’s jaguar peered out of blue eyes. “Why aren’t you mated? Why didn’t you come for us, to take us out of that hell-hole of a Pack?”
A low growl escaped Jared. “Because, Sable didn’t want to leave.”
Nigel jerked his head back. After a few moments, he glanced away. “She hated Felix. Hated everything he’d done. She stayed to protect those who were too scared to leave.”
Jared closed his eyes then rubbed his temples. He knew everything his son said was true, yet he couldn’t bring himself to go to her. The pain of her betrayal weighed on his chest. “Not when we were together. I told her it was her father or me, and…well, you know who she chose.”
Blaine’s and Hayden’s scent reached Jared’s keen senses a moment before the males entered his office. After forcing himself to relax, Jared fixed a stare on Nigel. “I need you to stay with Cameron. I will go with Hayden and his team to get your mother. You do understand that the Alphas will lock her up?”
Nigel nodded once. “If she doesn’t run.”
“If she does, I’ll track her down personally. Deal?”
“Deal.”
Nigel sagged slightly before dropping into a nearby chair. Jared lifted his gaze to meet Blaine’s. You know only I can bring her in. I’ll pass judgment before I do.
The Alpha made a growl-like noise in his throat before replying telepathically. Be sure you keep your head on straight. I’d hate to tell my mate I had to execute her brother.
Noted.
****
Stepping out of his truck, Kieran scanned the forest around the small cabin he’d rented about a mile from the rebel camp. He held in a growl as Ana’s uneasiness flowed loud and clear through the mating bond. She’d grown twitchy on the ride over, which added to his m
ounting anxiety. As did the heavy magick that blanketed the air, dark and oily. It reminded him of Savannah’s power.
Fuck, why had he brought Ana along? Because she was damn good at killing mutants if they ran into any.
“I don’t like it here,” Ana muttered, but Kieran sensed her curiosity about what was causing the stay-the-fuck-away vibe.
“Me neither. The faster we check out the camp, the better.”
She nodded and entered the small cabin with a sigh. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he relaxed, as well. The small home was warded against whatever magick lay outside.
Ana set her bag on the sofa and turned to him. “I can extend this energy out and form a barrier around the cabin. It will hide us for a little while.”
His sensual lips lifted in a lazy smile as he stalked toward her. When he stopped inches from her, his wild scent flowed around her, igniting the fire only he could stir. She threaded the fingers of her right hand through his hair and rested the palm of her other over his heart. “War or no war, you are mine.”
“As you are mine.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips before his brows dipped. “I have a confession that you will not like.”
A spark of dread settled in her stomach. His low tone, and the guilt that traveled through the mating bond made her dizzy. How bad was his confession? She stepped back, crossed her arms, and slammed down her shields.
He reached out to her but didn’t make contact before dropping his arm and pacing away. “I was born in the Onyx Pack, trained to be a sentry, and became Marshal by the time I was thirty.”
Relief left her boneless and she sat on the sofa. A giggle bubbled out, drawing Kieran’s attention to her. “I’m sorry. I already knew that. Sable told me. She also told me you talked Felix into letting you spy on Ashwood. It wasn’t until I found out who my real family was that I pieced everything together.”
“What did you conclude?”
The scowl on his face amused her more. “That you had somehow become good friends with Keegan. You are so much more at ease around him. When we came to the den, it was as if you were finally home. I know because I felt those things, too. Plus, Cam had filled me in on how you trained Blaine to be a Marshal. Although I don’t know all the details.”
She twisted to face him, tucking one leg under her. His gold eyes watched her, and she lowered her shields to allow the love she felt for him to travel along the threads of the bond. A slight smile lifted his lips.
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew?”
She brushed a stray hair from his forehead. “I was waiting for you to tell me. I figured you would when you were ready.”
“When I began my training as an Onyx soldier, things were different. Felix was different. Believe it or not, he was a compassionate Alpha and the Pack was healthy. My father was his Marshal at the time.” Kieran paused, sorrow etched in his features as he reached out to her. “There was a time I blamed myself for the failing health of the Pack.”
“What happened to Felix?” Even though she hated the male for everything he’d done, she knew there had to be a time when he was…sane. Right?
“Savannah happened. The witch was power hungry before Felix even met her. I’d always believed she used him for his telepathic gifts, as well as his knowledge of genetics to gain more power. Not long after they mated, Felix started neglecting the Pack and forced male children as young as five into solider training. The added aggression, as you witnessed yourself, made them change at a younger age.” Kieran fisted his hand and Ana covered it with her own.
“Do you think Savannah’s dark magic poisoned him?”
Kieran nodded. “The mating bond would allow him access to it.”
“Once he got a taste for her greed and power, he wanted more.” Ana squeezed his hand, her own anger for all the lost innocents rising. “So, how long before you approached him about spying on Ashwood?”
“A few months. Felix started ranting about how Ashwood, who had always been a great ally, was holding Onyx back from thriving. He blamed Keegan for spying on him. I never understood why. Felix never gave anyone an answer. When I tried to talk reason into him, he questioned my loyalty to the Pack.” Kieran turned his hand over and linked his fingers with Ana’s. His warm palm was tense but gentle.
The sense that he needed to get it off his chest came through the bond, so she snuggled into him and asked, “What happened next?”
“Like I said, Ashwood was one of Onyx’s biggest allies, so I approached Keegan about leaving Onyx. He suggested that I tell Felix I’d go to Ashwood as a spy.”
She paused and scanned his face. When he opened his mouth to speak again, she placed a finger over his lips. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been so crazy lately. My whole world was turned upside down and I didn’t know where I fit in. Still don’t. Then you avoided any talk about mating… I thought I’d lost you. Thought you didn’t understand. But you do.”
He gripped her arms gently and tugged her to him until she was flattened against his chest. “I wanted to keep you safe. Savannah will come after me, Keegan, and everyone that means something to us.”
Ana lifted her head to gaze into his eyes. “Then we fight together, do everything we can to protect the den and the Alphas. I’m not cowering behind wards, waiting on the witch to make her move. It’s not who I am.”
“I know. That’s why I want you to help me train the Sentinels for Blaine and Luna.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her heart melted, and pride straightened her spine a little. “I’d love to.”
Framing her face, he tugged her head down until their lips meshed together. When he broke the kiss, he met her stare, his gold eyes glowing with the desire she felt through their bond. “Ready to go storm the camp?”
“You bet. With any luck, we’ll find a few mutants to take down.”
He tightened his arms around her and nipped at her nose. “You will be the death of me.”
“Not anymore. I can show you through the bond how to track and kill the beasts. Did you forget I’ve been doing it since I was eighteen?” She gave him a quick kiss and wiggled out of his hold.
“While that is true, I am still your mate and will continue to protect you.”
“And I’ll pretend to let you.”
When he moved, she squealed and darted to the bathroom, shutting and locking the door before he reached it. Yet, it was no use. Kieran broke the knob and pushed his way inside.
Laughing, she said, “You’ll have to pay for that.”
One side of his mouth lifted. “They can take it out of the deposit.”
Her laugher turned into a gasp when he stopped in front of her and snaked an arm around her. “What will you do with me?”
He kissed her cheek, then nipped at her earlobe. “Anything I want.” Without another word, he bit down on her shoulder.
Fluid fire pooled between her thighs and she dug her nails into his shoulders as an orgasm rocketed through her.
Mine. Yes, the woman agreed with the leopard. Kieran Michaels was hers.
Chapter Seventeen
Kieran raised a hand in a silent command to Ana and the two sentries he could sense somewhere in the forest. Coming to a stop at the edge of a clearing, Kieran leaned into Ana. “That’s some heavy fucking magick.”
“Yes. It makes me ill. But there are no wards, strange.” She reached out with one hand as if feeling the air. After a few moments, she pointed and whispered, “Show me.”
He followed her gaze to the open space. Like a veil lowering, the camp appeared. It wasn’t much of an encampment. Only a handful of tents were scattered among the brush. He wondered if a rebel group this small was even a threat.
He felt a slight pull on his subconscious as Ana called to the earth around her. Vines lowered from the trees and crawled on the ground toward one of the tents. He was about to ask her what she was doing, but he caught the rotten scent of mutants.
Ana’s spine went straight and she flicked her gaze to his, then in the di
rection of the half-human, half-beast creatures. Her emotions flooded the mating bond, fueling his own fight response. His leopard growled, wanting to protect his female while ripping the mutant bastards to shreds.
“Bastards,” Ana spoke the curse as she took off.
“Ana!” Damn it. Tanner. Kieran sent the sentry the telepathic curse as he fell in step with Ana.
I see her, the sentry thought back.
Kirk chimed in. There are two ahead of you, and two more inside the camp. Tanner and I will take care of the latter.
Good.
Beside him, Ana stilled and rested her fingers on his forearm. A few yards in front of them, the two creatures she’d tracked stood, scenting the air. These two wore collars. That was new.
“Bastards.” Ana’s curse was a soft whisper before she spoke to him. “I’m not sure what the collars are for besides a means to keep track of them. One of their weaknesses, as Keegan found out, is telepaths. If you flood their mind with your thoughts, it confuses them.”
“I’m not a telepath.”
She cut him a gaze and smirked. “I am, and as my mate you should be able to use the gift.”
He wasn’t so sure about that, but he didn’t have time to ask questions. The mutants jerked their attention to him and Ana and charged. Kieran drew his gun, only to have it knocked out of his hand as one of the creatures tackled him to the ground.
Fuck. They were faster than he remembered. “Savannah must have enhanced their abilities.” Lifting a hand, Kieran changed it to the claw of his leopard and swiped it across the beast’s face. The mutant screamed and lost his grip, giving Kieran the opportunity to flip the asshat off him.
“Looks like it,” Ana called back.
An inhuman screech cut through the forest. Kieran glanced to Ana to see the creature she fought catch on fire. The dying mutant didn’t only catch Kieran’s attention, but that of its buddy. The male Kieran fought charged at Ana, catching her off guard.