Tainted Souls: A Shadow Creek Novel

by J. C RIMELL

  Jared respected the alpha, even felt a jolt of his power through his grip. He could see the dominance flare in his gaze. But Jared was rogue and nothing the alpha could do would stop him. He wasn't going to hang around a minute longer than he needed to. Everything male in him wanted Madeleine, needed her here now, safe in his arms. His wolf was howling in agony at the thought of those sons-of-bitches touching her. It was clawing his skin, salivating for a kill. Hell if he knew what had attracted him to her. How he'd known on some subconscious level to approach her the other night. To turn left instead of right and find those bastards attacking her. It didn't matter. He had a pull in the center of his chest so strong; she was like his true north and he had to find her.

  “You do whatever you have to. I'm going up, it'll be quicker.” The alpha let his arm go with confusion in his eyes.

  “Jared here is a multi-shifter,” Mitch offered in way of clarification. And just like that, Jared ran forward and transformed into his other hunter, taking to the skies and leaving the wolves flightless on the ground.

  He had to believe the connection he felt toward Madeleine would somehow lead him to her. It was difficult to see through the thick pines until they became more sparse and the land grew rockier and steeper. Jared flew in large circles, his sharp eyes scanning for any movement. Even from miles up he could spot small animals, so he had no problems keeping tabs on the wolves following him down below.

  A thought flickered in his mind. There was a derelict cabin situated a few miles on the other side of a deep ravine. He was going the wrong way. They wouldn't take her up this high, it would take too long and there wasn't anything around the higher part of the mountain for miles in any direction. He should know, he'd traveled these lands far and wide.

  He dived with a dizzying speed. A falcon being one of the fastest members of the animal kingdom, he swooped with a clear, high call, over the heads of the wolves, and lead them to the ravine. Reaching the water that flowed rapidly this time of year, he flew across to the other side and landed on a rock bordering the water's edge.

  When the wolves finally caught up, he took off again, flying low between the trees until a few minutes later he reached the cabin. He'd had to rest up here on the odd occasion over the years, but he hadn't been here for some months. It had been fixed up. The shutters on the windows had been repaired, the tin on the roof was new and there was a vehicle parked outside. Hearing voices as he approached from the rear of the property, he landed on the thick branch of an oak overlooking the building.

  He saw the alpha and his wolves advancing and heard a vehicle approaching from a distance.

  Without a moment's hesitation, he free fell from the branch shifting in mid-air. Prowling quietly to a door at the rear, he pushed it with his muzzle and the thing swung open with a low groan. Her scent hit him immediately. Her smell laced the air, tainting it with her blood. He wanted to roar, realizing he was too late.

  A fight broke out in the next room. He pushed open the door with his muzzle to see the two males being taken outside. He followed, watching as they were made to kneel down with their hands on their heads. A vehicle skidded to a halt at the front of the property. A male and female leaped out of the truck wearing military clothing and two more wolves followed closely behind.

  Jared padded forward, his gaze fixed on the male. Something about him seemed familiar, ruffled his senses. He'd seen him before, even with a ball cap shading his eyes, he was sure of it. A sudden realization struck him hard in the gut. Watching the male walk with a subtle limp only added an extra certainty. Jared swallowed the shock. It couldn't be, could it? He'd fought with a male the day his transition hit. He'd been out of control. The memories flooded his mind, still so hazy, parts of that night were so far from his reach. But he recalled the moment he'd ripped the male's leg from his body.

  Jared's stomach flipped upside down. It wasn't a memory he was proud of. So many times he'd tried to remember, to figure out what had caused him to do that. What exactly had happened that day? Had the male attacked him? Was it just because he'd been crazed out of his mind during the transition?

  Backing up into the cabin, he shot out the back door.

  Shifting, he took to the sky again, tried to push all those thoughts from his mind. Right now he had to focus on finding Madeleine. Flying east, he followed the track from the cabin. Picking up his speed, he used the air pockets to push him further, faster; the wind blowing away the cobwebs of his nightmare… for now.

  The trunk was dark and smelled of gasoline. The ride was bumpy and Madeleine had hit her head countless times now. Her body ached from having to remain in the same position, cramped in the small space. The throbbing of her eye beat to the thrum of her pulse. Her broken ribs made it hard for her to breathe, nausea swirling like the emptying of a drain in her gut.

  They had taken her to a cabin and two others had been there. They'd poked and groped her and she'd fought with every ounce of strength she had. It had gotten her another punch to her face and a few to her ribs and stomach. But she'd rather that, than having them touch her or worse. Some time passed before she sensed the road level out and become smoother. She closed her eyes; it was all her own stupid fault. She should've known better, but hindsight was a wonderful thing.

  A short while later Jared saw a beat up sedan in the distance turning off the track onto the main road. It had to be her. He followed it for over an hour, into the city where it disappeared underneath a high rise building. But not just any random building, Jared recognized it was the Society's Headquarters. He swooped low and landed on an iron girder, watching as Nix and the other male got out and flipped open the trunk.

  They pulled Madeleine out and threw a bag over her head.

  He wanted to kill them then and there. Lunging from the beam he shifted and landed in a crouch on the mortar, his eyes wide with a surge of anger at seeing them hurting her that way. Their hands on her skin. Biting back the thundering war cry desperate to leave his lips, he watched as they dragged her over to the elevator. The doors opened with a ping and they hauled her into it. Once the doors closed, he sprinted across the lot, the elevator indicator went up and stopped on the twelfth floor.

  He gunned for the stairwell, launching up the steps without pause. Opening the door a fraction, he listened. Slipping through, he crouched beside a filing cabinet. It was quiet. No one was working. Keeping low, he made it out into the corridor, looked left and right. Heard faint voices coming from further down the building. He pushed a door on his right; it opened. A washroom. He went in, found a locker open and rummaged around. A couple of suits were hanging up and there was some gym gear stashed in a bag on the lower shelf. Grabbing the sweat pants, he shoved himself into them despite being too tight across his thighs, they'd do.

  Hurrying back out into the hall, he headed for the voices. Reaching the door where the voices were coming from, he stood to his full height. He didn't care how this ended for him as long as Madeleine was safe.

  With fangs bared, he barged through the door.

  Twenty-One

  Back at the cabin in the woods, Ryker swiped the screen on his Samsung to accept the incoming call, though, the reception was pretty grim. “Snow? What you got, buddy?”

  “Ah, just spoken to the Overseer. He wants an emergency meeting. Seems like another attack is planned. It's imminent. He wants everyone at the office first thing.”

  “Shit. Does he know about Madeleine?”

  “Nah, not yet. I didn't mention it.”

  “Okay, I'll let Fleet know.”

  Ryker slid his phone back into the pocket of his fatigues and advised Fleet. His alpha paced around, his fangs still prominent, and Ryker could tell he was way beyond pissed off with the whole situation. Having one of the pack missing would have a deep effect on Fleet. Despite hiding his emotions with well-trained mastery behind the armor he wore like a shield, cracks were beginning to show.

  Nevada had her semi-automatic steady on the two males kneeling on the ground w
hen Fleet moved to stand in front them.

  Take these two back in the All Terrain, he ordered Ryker. The pack and I will make our way back to the lair, Murphy will interrogate them both, ASAP. We'll regroup before going over to headquarters.

  Ryker gave a clipped nod and grabbed one of the males, Nevada pulling the other to his feet.

  Seeing Madeleine sitting in that chair with her wrists and ankles cut and bloody from the brutal binding, had Jared clenching his molars with unforgiving force. Her eyes were wide with terror as she whipped her head around to face him and his wolf roared with fury. His claws sliced through his fingers, his eyes were white hot flames in his head. Jared launched himself at Nix, knocking the male into a bureau and smashing the wooden furniture into toothpicks. They fell to the floor with a heavy thud, Jared tightened his grip on Nix, he was going to kill the bastard if it was the last thing he did.

  In his periphery, Jared caught the male in the suit pulling a gun out from under his desk. He aimed it straight between Madeleine's eyes. Turning his head, Jared glared at the male while he still had Nix pinned beneath him and his hands wrapped around his throat.

  Alex Warden?

  Yeah, Jared was sure it was Alex Warden, the brother of the Society's Overseer. Okay, now he was totally confused…

  “You may want to step away… now,” Warden said cocking the pistol.

  From the sober look in his eye, the guy wasn't messing around. Why he was turning on one of his own was a mystery to Jared. Had Madeleine done something against the Society? Broken some goddamn sacred rule? Or was Alex Warden just completely out of his mind? Whatever the reason, Jared wasn't about to risk Madeleine's life further. Shifters healed from most things, but a bullet to the head? He doubted one could come back from that.

  Releasing Nix, he stood up, his eyes coolly trying to calculate a way out of the situation. The widow behind Warden looked appealing, only twelve floors up, he could use his body as a shield for Madeleine. It would nearly kill him, but he'd recover, and even if he didn't, at least Madeleine would be fine.

  She was trying to speak behind the duct tape covering her mouth.

  Warden laughed. “Don't worry, Madoc, the troops will be here soon enough,” he said moving from behind the desk to stand in front of her.

  With the gun aimed at her head with one hand, he ripped the duct tape from her mouth. She gasped, and Jared growled loud enough that Warden paused to look at him with an eyebrow arched. “A little over protective, aren't we?” His eyes narrowed. “In fact, is that your mating scent I can smell?”

  His cruel eyes darted between Madeleine and Jared.

  “Something to share, Madoc? Have you been a naughty girl?” With a mocking tone, he continued, “You know members of the Society aren't allowed such privileges.” His head cocked to one side. “Although, Cade Grayson got away with that little rule. Convenient having an Overseer as a grandfather… Does your mate, here, know about your past? How you were turned by a rogue?”

  His eyes flicked back to Jared, smiled sadistically while trying to read the emotions on his face. “Oh yes, Madoc was attacked, turned against her will. Let's see the scar, Madoc, your arm, wasn't it?” Tugging up the sleeve of the T-shirt, he grabbed her arm exposing a jagged, faded pink scar that ran along the underside of her bicep down to the elbow. She yanked her arm free from his hold.

  Jared's stomach recoiled. It wasn't because the scar wasn't pretty. The mark made her no less beautiful to him. But it triggered those memories he'd had earlier when he'd seen that male dressed in the military clothing.

  He was suddenly back running through those trees. His transition had hit him hard and so out of the blue he'd had no control over his wolf. He tried to piece the jigsaw back together. But the main part escaped him, even though it felt so close within his grasp, he just couldn't reach it.

  Madeleine's voice tugged him back to the present.

  “Why are you doing this?” her voice rasped.

  “Because I can. Because there are some of us who no longer wish to be kept in the dark simply because the world is overpopulated with humans, who, are both weak and inferior.” He shrugged, then added, “And, well, I have a few personal reasons too, but that's no concern of yours.”

  “Does your friend know the Society would never let you go? You're much too valuable.” He chuckled, tracing the muzzle of the gun along her jaw line. Jared inched forward. “Tut, tut. Stay where you are,” he warned with a sideways glance of his eyes. “Unless you want me to put a bullet in her pretty little head.”

  Nix grabbed Jared's arm and twisted. “Don't make another fucking move… Or do,” he goaded. “Might be fun to see the she-wolf's brains leaving her skull.”

  Jared snarled, deep and fierce. “Be ready, Nix. I'm going to enjoy ripping apart your flesh and hearing you beg for mercy… but rest assured, I'll show you none.”

  “Of course, none of this matters. Die now or die later,” Warden cut in, bringing their attention back to him. “In about an hour's time, you, your precious Society and this building will be nothing but dust.”

  Aden Black put the second IED into place. The two bombs were set to go off at the same time. The Society's building and the club would blow simultaneously. Half the Society would be here, namely Shadow Pack and the Overseer. At the Grave Yard club in Shadow Creek, the other half, including Sentinels, Protectors and Jack Henderson and his officers.

  That would be an end to rules, regulations and having to hide.

  Alex had agreed to let him run his own team, and he was happy to accept. The man was a dick, but he paid well. And if shifters would no longer be governed by the Society, then he'd gladly help put his kind on the top rung of the ladder and humans where the truly belonged… At the very bottom.

  Not to say that he trusted Alex. He didn't trust him as far as he could throw him, but he was willing to see just where this went. Nix was proving to be a good wingman, even though hot-headed. The others in the group were young, but he had already made an impression on them, enough that they would follow him into a burning building if they had to.

  Concealing the explosive, he backed away. He turned the corner down the alley and taking out his cell, he punched in Alex's number.

  He took longer than usual to answer. Aden was about to hang up…

  “Is it done?”

  “It's all set.”

  “Good work. I'll call as soon as we're clear and the targets have arrived.”

  “Understood. I'll be enjoying a coffee until then.”

  He pocketed his cell, crossed the street and walked to the McCoy's café.

  Alex ended the call. “Well, it seems I have to leave, but what to do with you?” he said swinging the gun and pointing it at Jared. “Mm, going to have to lose you I'm afraid.” His finger squeezed the trigger. Madeleine jumped up from her seat, knocking Alex backward, the gun going off as he fell back against the desk. The bullet skimmed the thick muscular slab of Jared's shoulder sending him stumbling backward. Alex regained his composure and struck Madeleine with the back of his hand. Before anyone in the room knew it, Jared had surged forward. With razor blade teeth bared, he sank them into Alex Wardens throat.

  Blood gushed into his mouth. Nix and the other male in the room had shifted, one bit into his thigh, their fangs hitting bone. The other male's jaw clamped around his forearm and his nerve endings blazed with fire as the skin ripped from his flesh. He saw Madeleine struggling to get to her feet, her ankles and wrists being tied made it difficult. He bit down harder, Alex Warden thrashed against him, but Jared clung on. He'd die making sure Madeleine was going to get out of this fucked up situation. He didn't want her to put herself in danger by trying to help him. A pang of pride struck him in the chest amidst the chaos. She got to her feet and threw her tied hands over the wolf's head latched onto Jared's arm and gouged its eyes with her fingers. It released him and he watched the blood spurt from the puncture wounds it left behind. They burned like red hot pokers piercing his skin. Feeling the fles
h as it was torn from his thighbone, he roared in pain. Letting go of Warden's throat, Jared twisted to try to get Nix off of him.

  The gun went off a second and third time. Jared's body jerked with the impact. Things began to swim in his vision.

  No. No, he had to get Madeleine out of here.

  The room started spinning…

  §

  Gabrielle was feeling restless. After seeing Ryker again, she felt more confused than the previous night. She noticed the little café in town was open as she drove past, so she parked her car and headed back toward the place. A nice cappuccino and slice of something sweet would help her figure out just what her next move would be. Ryker was unpredictable to say the very least. But when he'd kissed her… She brought a finger to her lips and traced the seam, closed her eyes at the memory. When his lips had taken control and his hands had held on to her so tight… almost like he was afraid to let her go.

  Gabrielle rolled her eyes. Christ, she was acting like a love-struck teenager. No, it couldn't happen again. She had work to think about. She'd already given this thing, whatever it was, too much of her time. He'd hurt her. Break her heart. That's what guy's like Ryker did. No, she didn't need the complications and she would just have to tell him that.

  Reaching Jo's Café, she pushed open the door and the lovely smell of fresh coffee, lemon and cakes hit her. The place was quiet, just a guy sat alone at a table for two and wow… two women who looked almost identical behind the counter.

  “Hi, what can I getcha' honey?”

  “Um, I'd love a large cappuccino and something that's chocolate with say… a thousand calories in it should do it,” Gabrielle replied.

  “Ah, love's a bitch ain't it.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Handing her a large mug filled with a fluffy creamy topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon, the woman with hazel eyes and a ponytail smiled, her gaze warm and friendly. “A woman with a figure like yours tends to watch what they eat… unless love has something to do with it.”