by Sydney Addae
Cameron reached for Lilly, who stood slightly behind him next to Rose. “This is Lilly, my mate,” he said without hesitation as he introduced the female first to Silas and then Jasmine.
Silas kept his distance and nodded, knowing how skittish Lilly was, but Jasmine grabbed the woman in a big hug.
“I will have two daughters. First Rose and now you.” She stepped back and glanced at a smiling Rose. “You never told me you two looked so much alike. Two more pretty women to spice this place up, just what we need.” Jasmine linked her arms with Lilly and then Rose. The three women walked slightly ahead of the four men toward the condo. Lilly in her lab coat, Rose in a tailored suit, and Jasmine in her tantalizing plum dress. The three couldn’t appear more different, but right now they were joined with a common purpose. To make the transition easy for Lilly.
“Uh…what just happened?” Cameron asked Silas, looking confused.
“Welcome to the family,” Tyrese said, chuckling.
“Family?” Cameron’s eyes widened a bit as he looked at Silas.
“It’s a human thing. Your mate is a half-breed,” Silas said as though that should explain things.
“I know that,” Cameron said slowly. “But…”
“She has a teenage brother, as well. He’s kind of on house arrest,” Tyrone said with the smug look of a man who had intimate knowledge of the level of confusion Cameron was wading through.
Cameron stopped. “What? Why?” His head swung between Silas and Tyrone.
Silas continued walking after the women. “Don’t waste time out here, you don’t want to give the women a whole lot of time to talk without us being there. My mate will start asking questions before I arrive if I take too long. And I know you want to learn everything you can about your mate, right?”
Cameron ran to catch up with them. “Yes, yes I do.”
They entered the room as Lilly was drying her hands before pulling out a chair to sit at the table. Jasmine glanced at him and placed a plate of food in front of the female. “Eat first. You need to regain your weight if you were larger than Rose.”
“Hey, I’m not that big, am I Rone?” Rose looked up at her mate. He took her in his arms and rubbed his hands down her backside.
“Not at all, babe. You’re perfect. For me.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and led her to the loveseat in the living room.
Cameron walked to the table and looked around.
“The food’s in the kitchen, grab a plate and put whatever you want on it,” Jasmine said.
He looked surprised but walked out and did as she said. Silas settled in the chair next to Jasmine as Tyrese sat near his brother and Rose in the living area. Cameron returned to the table with his plate, sat next to Lilly, and tore into his food. He finished his first plate before Lilly was halfway done with hers. After having seconds, he placed a bottle of cold water next to his mate. She opened it without comment and drank her fill.
Silas sensed his mate was about to begin her gentle interrogation and nodded to Tyrese, who would be taping the conversation. Once Lilly pushed her plate away, Jasmine began. “Don’t you want some dessert?”
Lilly groaned. “No, I am stuffed. But this should digest pretty fast. I always had a high metabolism.” Cameron watched from the corner of his eyes but didn’t say anything.
Silas glanced at the clock. He needed to check in with Hank to see how the doctors and lab techs were doing, especially since he'd told them about the detective and what they needed to do. The team of wolves he'd sent after Detective Jenkins should also be checking in soon. They hadn’t come up with a plan to corral the rebels from the nightclub incident, but he was waiting to hear from Jayden regarding Leon and the female. Still, he needed to get the word out in case they were spotted.
“Tyrese?”
“Sir?
“Get the word out that I want the whereabouts of those five rebels. But no one should approach them. For now I just want a location and any patterns. I’m waiting on some intel and will let you know when I want them brought in.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Oh yeah, check in with Hank, find out how things are going in the lab as well.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Tyrese nodded and left the room. Silas relaxed next to Jasmine and started playing with one of her soft braids that had escaped the pins holding them in place.
“I helped Silas escape the cave in, but Cameron, you were buried beneath the rocks,” Jasmine said, looking between Cameron and Lilly. “When the men went back to get you, you were gone. What happened?”
Cameron shrugged. “I don’t know. Last thing I remember, Arianna was saying the pups weren’t mine and then everything went dark.” He looked at Lilly.
She bit her lip and glanced at Jasmine. “I was on my way to find Rose and Thorne. Mom…she was dead. On the way, I heard him moaning in pain and I…I couldn’t ignore it.” She released a breath and pushed her hair back from her face.
“Then he stopped. There was nothing. Just a faint heartbeat. I remember being scared but not sure why. When I got to the cave, he was beneath the rocks and I dug him out. It took a long time because I had to stop whenever I heard voices. When the sounds passed, I’d start up again. By the time I was finished and could pull him out, it was dark, so I hid him away until first light. Afterward, I took some clothes from the men on the ground and made a sleigh with those and some tree limbs. We got a far distance before the limbs broke. Luckily there was a cave nearby. I got him in there and that’s where we stayed.”
Silas marveled at the tenacity and ingenuity of the young bitch. The Goddess had chosen well for Cameron. He felt sure once they overcame their problems they would have strong pups and a peaceful den.
Jasmine reached across the table and covered her hand. “I’m sure that’s an extremely short version of everything the two of you went through to survive. I for one am glad you are here. How long were you sick or out of it, Cameron?”
He released a sigh. “I don’t know. There are flashes of images and I remember bits and pieces, but not much. Not until last night, I believe.” He looked at Lilly. “The apple, was that last night?”
She nodded.
“Lilly was feeding me pieces of apple. Then she gave me something warm to drink. But at some point she touched me and told me to get well so we could leave. An electrical charge shot through me, energizing my cells or something.” He laughed. “I’m not kidding. All my senses flared and I could see and think clearly for the first time since…wow, I guess since I left for basic training. I remember shifting, and it was if I was realigning on the inside.” He looked at Silas. “Does that make sense? I mean I may not be explaining it right, but that’s as close to it as I can get.”
“Sounds good to me,” Silas said, understanding, even if Cameron didn’t, that Lilly had been the catalyst of his healing.
“The longer I stayed wolf, the stronger I became. I went a little stir crazy trying to find a way out of that cave, and started digging. When I felt fresh air, I left to check things out. I must’ve run for miles trying to find a safe path to the top. It took a while, but after I felt confident, I woke Lilly and we headed out. I called you when I was close to the forest. You know the rest.”
Lilly sat really still in the chair without speaking. She appeared to be listening intently to Cameron’s accounting, obviously hearing all of this for the first time.
“What’s wrong, Lilly?” Jasmine asked gently.
Lilly shook her head as her lips tightened into a straight line.
“Lilly?” Jasmine’s voice changed, it was a little stronger. “Head gestures don’t work. You have to use words for me to understand.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No,” Lilly said before Cameron could speak. “I…this whole thing. It’s not, things aren’t like I thought.” She swallowed and glanced at Cameron. “He’s not like I thought.”
“That’s a good thing or a bad th
ing?” Jasmine asked, compassion lacing her voice.
“I don’t know. He has a tattoo. That means he’s an Alpha, but where’s his pack? Why aren’t they here?” She frowned.
“His pack is here. We’re his pack. He is Alpha-trained and can assume the position one day, but until then he works with me, here at the compound,” Silas said.
Lilly looked at Rose and Silas suspected the two were communicating. He took Jasmine’s hand and kissed the back.
“What are the names of your pups? How many do you have?” Cameron asked.
“Four. Adam, David, Renee, and Jackie,” Silas said, glancing at Jasmine.
Cameron nodded, although his eyes slid to Lilly. “That is so awesome. I can’t wait to see them. How old are they?”
“A few days shy of six weeks,” Silas said, watching Lilly who was listening. “I had your quarters cleaned and stocked. I figured the two of you might be tired.”
Lilly sat up ramrod straight. “I thought I’d stay with Rose and Thorn since I haven’t seen them for a while.”
“They are in a different wing but you can visit with them any time. However, you cannot live there,” Jasmine said with a firmness that surprised and pleased Silas.
“Why not?” Lilly asked, obviously peeved but trying to hide her frustration.
“Because I require peace in my home,” Jasmine said succinctly. “And a separated newly mated pair?” Jasmine shook her head. “You will be too jealous and so will he until the two of you settle down and mate properly. So until then, you’ll be in Cameron’s quarters.”
Silas appreciated the firm but gentle manner in which she handled the girl. He knew he didn’t have the patience for this type of negotiation.
“I’ll leave then,” Lilly threatened. Cameron tensed but remained silent, wisely allowing Jasmine to handle the conversation.
Jasmine smiled and patted her hand. “Lilly, you and I both know if you could have left Cameron, you would have done it a long time ago.” Lilly’s face reddened but she remained silent.
“You’re upset. You feel your life is out of control. I totally understand and get that.” She inhaled and looked at Silas. “Believe me, I do. Silas and I danced a long time before honoring our bond. But neither of us were able to escape it.”
“So you’re saying suck it up and go with the flow,” Lilly asked in an acerbic tone.
Jasmine leaned back in her chair. “Well, you could try talking, get to know him. You’ve never had the opportunity to spend time with him as a healthy man. He lost his parents when he was young, served in the military, traveled the world. There’s a lot you don’t know about your mate and a lot he doesn’t know about you. Take some time, get to know him, it can’t hurt.” She stood and smiled. “We did and look what we have to show for it.”
“Four pups?” Lilly asked skeptically.
“No… peace in my house. A frustrated mate is hell to live with,” Jasmine said with a light laugh while walking toward the living area.
“I know that’s right,” Rose said from the love seat, elbowing Tyrone.
“Hmph,” Lilly snorted.
“You can’t leave him. And to be horny and angry all the time is a ticking time bomb. It goes both ways, you’re going to want him as much as he wants you. I guess your systems have been a little off because of your situation. But now that his wolf is healthy… and yours is no longer worried over his survival, nature will jump start those libidos. Save yourself and everyone else the trouble, date him if you want, but spend time talking getting to know one another or whatever else people do before admitting the inevitable.”
Jasmine pulled Silas close, opened her link wide open and kissed him, sharing her heartfelt love and appreciation for the man he was. The taste and feel of her hit his system like a narcotic. He pulled her close, needing more as her scent flooded his nostrils. The way she saw him, handsome, sexy, intelligent, strong, competent, smart, engaging,- completely blew his mind. He mirrored her emotions and they flowed between them on a loop that touched off a firestorm in him.
“I love you so much,” she said through their link.
“You complete me,” he returned.
“Always love me.”
“That is the only thing I can do.”
They broke apart, gasping for air. She touched his face and leaned against his chest breathing heavily. Holding her tight, he looked around the room. The blueness of his eyes reflected in the mirror across the room. He glanced at the flushed faces of Rose and Lilly. Tyrone and Cameron looked everywhere but in his direction.
Jasmine smiled. “The babies are awake. I’m going to the nursery. I will see you tonight.”
He patted her on her backside and walked to the door. “Cameron, escort my mate and Rose back to their floor before you and your mate return to your wing.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Chapter 10
Silas waited until they left and then asked Tyrone, “Has Rese checked in?”
Tyrone glanced at him before speaking. “No. Sir. Would you like me to contact him?”
“Yes.” Silas strode to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of cold water and drained it. He poured another glass, held it in his hand for a moment and then rubbed it across his forehead. He willed his painful erection to ease up. It didn’t help that her scent remained in his nostrils, the feel of her skin still teased the pads of his fingertips. And her taste, God he hadn’t wanted her like that since… last night. Jasmine was his singular addiction.
He squeezed his neck and thought of Siseria and the explosive device somewhere in her body. His hardness softened a bit. Then he remembered the rebels who wanted to destroy his precious litter. And his back stiffened. His thoughts flitted over Detective Jenkins, then the rebels who set up Tyrese and the explosion with Boggs, those situations trekked across his mind, effectively bringing him out of his lusty haze. Prepared to deal with the issues at hand, Silas stepped out into the living area. Tyrone stood in the middle of the room.
“He’s in the lab. They have the x-ray of the device. He thinks you may want to see it.”
Silas nodded.
“Also, Jenkins has been brought into the bunker beneath the gym. Froggy is with him. They have him sedated and are waiting for you to pull his wolf.”
Silas decided to pull the wolf first so Froggy could examine the animal and create a training plan.
“He’s been scanned?”
“Yes. Froggy scanned him. Says he’s clear. Plus Rese scanned him a few minutes ago and locked him in. No one can access him until after you pull his wolf, not even Froggy.”
Silas smiled. Tyrese was serious about carrying out his no fuck-ups decree. He snapped his fingers and contacted Tyrese. “Do you still have those clothes you wore to the club the other night?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I’m heading to pull Jenkins wolf and will come to the lab afterward. When we return to the wing, grab those clothes, I need to scent the wolves from the fight.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Silas and Tyrone strode down the hall toward the elevator to take them to the tunnels. “You think Lilly and Cameron will be okay?” Tyrone asked. “Rose is worried. She’s afraid Lilly will run away.”
“She would have done that already. I believe she’s with him because she wants to be. It may take a little time for her mind to catch up to her heart or vice versa. But it’ll happen.”
“Good, because I don’t want Rose caught in the middle of this.” They reached the tunnel and returned to the bunker area. After clearing security, they entered the area where Jenkins lay on a cot behind a secured door.
Silas sought out the detective’s wolf, but it fought the change. Eventually, he was able to pull the wolf out and it lay heaving on the bed. Watching the animal limp on the table, Silas became concerned. The wolf should have become vocal after the change. There should be some whimpering or howling, or something. Standing close to the steel door, Silas looked through the glass and scanned the listless wolf.
As he continued the scan he grew more and more angry. When the scan was completed, Silas dropped his head against the steel door and prayed to the Goddess for strength. The happy glow from having his godson returned hadn’t even faded before he was slammed with another possible catastrophe.
What the hell was going on?
Surely he was in the midst of some sort of cosmic test. At every turn he was bombarded with new crises and threats. Counting to ten, he inhaled, jumped off the pity party bus and fought like hell to be the man his mate saw.
“Call Hank, have him bring Dr. Passen here.” The doctor and his team were aware of the detective’s weak wolf, but there was more. A lot more.
“Yes, Sir,” Tyrone said.
“Rone?”
“Sir?”
“Have them wear the hazmat gear. There is something attacking this wolf from the inside out and exposing him to air may have made it worse.” Silas turned and leaned against the steel door, hoping he hadn't just escalated the wolf’s death.
“I’ve told him and they will be here shortly,” Tyrone said, standing nearby. “How bad do you think it is?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it is some kind of virus.” He shook his head. “Talk about throwing the kitchen sink at me, this has been one hell-uv-a-day.”
“Damn, that’s…messed up.”
“Yeah,” Silas pushed off from the door. “It is.” He strode across the hall and took a seat. As a distraction from the new problem behind the door and the other BS sitting on his desk, he pulled out his electronic pad and checked messages. There were quite a few from various Alphas seeking his counsel. Not surprising after he'd tore into them this morning.
Getting comfortable, he responded to the requests, gave his advice, and functioned as a sounding board. He had just finished sending his last response when Tyrese, the doctor, and three security guys entered the bunker. Not only did they wear the hazmat equipment, but they rolled a large incubator looking cube with them as well.
Silas stood.