Phoenix's Fate (RARE Series, #2)

by Dawn Sullivan

  “Ok, let’s...” before Angel could get anything else out the front door slammed open and two people ran out. As they watched, a guard ran out after them with his gun raised and one of them swung around and put a bullet in his head. “Well, maybe they didn’t need our help after all,” Angel said. But the women didn’t stop. They ran as one around to the back of the building. “Trace, Rikki and Serenity are coming your way. I repeat, they are coming your way. Do not fire!”

  “Got it,” Trace responded. “Someone else is back here, boss. I can smell his rank ass from all the way over here. I’m going in for a closer look.” Trace silently stalked the figure that looked like he was standing guard over a hole in the ground. What the hell? He heard Rikki and Serenity coming around the side of the building, but they stopped when they saw Trace.

  Trace ignored them and kept creeping up on the guard who was facing the other way, smoking a cigarette and laughing at something in the ground. As Trace moved closer, he took a deep breath trying to figure out what was in that hole. One lung full was all it took, then Trace was shifted into his huge black cat and he attacked the guard. In seconds the guard was dead. Trace stood at the edge of the hole peering into wide dark green eyes. He lifted his head and roared, then he prowled around the circle trying to figure out how to get down to her. The hole was wider, but it was deep. Trace’s cat had taken over and no matter how hard he tried, he could not yank that control back.

  “Please, help me,” the terrified woman whispered. “Get me out of here.” The stark fear in her voice was too much. Not thinking twice, Trace jumped into the hole with her. Now the team would have to figure out how to get them both out, but at least she would not be alone. She scooted back against the wall of dirt and pointed to something behind him. That was when he heard the hiss and rattle. A rattlesnake threatened her. With another loud roar, he swung a powerful paw at the snake and sliced through its body with a thick claw. Nothing was going to hurt this green eyed beauty. Nothing.

  Growling lowly, he paced around in a circle threatening anything that came too close. She huddled up against the wall watching him. Then she held out her arms. He could not resist. Trace moved to her and curled around her placing his head on her lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck burying her face in his fur. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you.” Shuddering, Trace pressed closer. Mine, he thought, mine. Inhaling, Trace shuddered again and closed his eyes at the pure pleasure that raced through him.

  “Trace,” he heard a voice call down. He didn’t bother to acknowledge the presence above. “Trace, answer me dammit. Are you alright?” He growled softly, and leaned back rubbing his nose on the woman’s cheek. “I will take that as a yes.”

  “Jade,” he heard another voice call. “Honey, are you ok?”

  The woman next to him laughed softly as she stroked his fur. “I am now,” she whispered. Tilting her head up she called, “Yeah, I’m good, thanks to Trace. I wasn’t a few minutes ago. There was a rattler down here, but it didn’t stand a chance once Trace jumped to my rescue.”

  There was a chuckle and then the other voice called down, “There is a rope ladder up here. We are going to send it down so you can climb out. And, Trace, Nico has some extra clothes we are going to throw down for you. They should work for now.”

  Trace could not help it. He started growling again. Even though he knew he was being unreasonable, he did not want Jade going up that ladder without him. If she went up without him, he would not be able to protect her. It didn’t matter that his whole team was waiting at the top.

  Jade glanced down at him and smiled. “How about I wait for you to change and then we go up together?” Trace purred, rubbing his head against her shoulder. “Ok,” she said as she let out another laugh. “That’s what we’ll do.”

  His clothes hit the ground and then the ladder was lowered into the hole. Raising his head he, growled at the others who were looking over the edge. “Come on, Trace,” Nico hollered. “Let Jade climb up here. Then you can follow.”

  “We will be up in a minute,” Jade called back. “Can everyone move back so he can change, please?”

  As Trace watched, everyone backed away from the edge of the hole. Everyone except Angel; she was watching Jade closely. He moved back from Jade and started to shift, but she grabbed him. “Don’t you dare shift while another woman is watching,” she hissed. He stopped and looked up at Angel waiting for her to leave.

  “Shift and get up here, Trace. We need to beat feet back to the ATVs,” Angel ordered as she moved away from the top of the hole.

  Trace glanced over and waited until Jade nodded. As she watched the top of the hole making sure no one came back, he shifted and pulled on his borrowed pants. They were a little loose, but would work for now. Reaching out, Trace tugged Jade close, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly. Trace shivered as Jade leaned back and lightly skimmed a hand from the top of his shoulder, down his dark muscular chest to stop at the top of his jeans. Her pale white skin was so light next to the dark color of his. “I think I like tattoos,” she whispered as she reached out again to trail a finger over the one going down his arm.

  “We better get going,” he finally said gruffly, reaching down and grabbing his shirt off the ground and pulling it on.

  “I’ll go up first and you come up right behind me,” Trace told her. “I need to make sure it is safe for you before you come over the top.”

  Jade nodded and Trace started climbing. He stopped and waited until she was right behind him before continuing up the ladder. When he reached the top he saw half of the team waiting for them, along with Rikki and another woman he assumed was Serenity. He crawled over the edge and turned back around for Jade, pulling her up and placing himself between Jade and his team.

  Finally, clear of that fucking hole in the ground, Trace was able to get his first good look at Jade. She was gorgeous. Beautiful long blond hair, dark green eyes, soft full lips. As he looked closer, his eyes widened in shock. Taking her chin in his hand he moved her face to the side and then back again. What the hell? He turned his stunned gaze from Jade to Angel. “Angel, you better come over here.”

  “Angel?” Jade mouthed silently turning towards the figure moving her way. Angel stopped in front of her and reached out a hand to lightly caress Jade’s face. “Mom,” Jade whispered. Trace watched as Angel’s eyes filled with tears. Was she really Jade’s mom? He had been a part of RARE for nearly five years now, and she had never insinuated that she might have a daughter out there.

  Suddenly the sound of a helicopter filled the air; this little family reunion was going to have to wait. They need to roll out now! Grabbing Jade’s hand he yelled, “Let’s move!” Angel took one last look at Jade and then turned to head towards the ATVs. “I’m trusting you to help me protect my daughter, Trace,” she told him through the comms. “Stay close to me so that I can keep an eye on her.” Trace did not bother to respond. There was no doubt in his mind he would give his life for Jade, whether Angel was her mother or not.

  Chapter 14

  Phoenix had watched Serenity come flying out of the building, gun in hand, holding it like a pro. She had been with Rikki, and when the two of them had taken off towards the back of the building, Angel had immediately followed them, so he knew she was safe for now. The need to get to her was almost overwhelming, but he had a job to do. He knew his team would protect her until he could. Right now, he had a building to wire.

  As Phoenix was setting the last explosive in place, he heard the thump, thump, thump of a chopper’s propellers. Through his ear comm he heard Angel yell that they were moving out. “Let me know when everyone’s clear,” he ground out. It was killing him that he could not be with Serenity. He was the only one who could set the building to blow, but even knowing that, it was hard to make himself stay where he was and concentrate on what needed to be done. Phoenix wanted to be with Serenity, be there to protect her. To tell her that she was going to be safe and the General and his men were n
ever going to get near her again. But that would have to wait.

  Just as he finished, Phoenix looked up and saw the chopper coming in fast and low. Oh, fuck, this did not look good. “Get out of there, Phoenix,” he heard Angel yell. “Get out of there now!” Phoenix took off at a dead run towards a building a good 50 yards away. He was still a few yards out when the helicopter let a missile fly. It slammed into the building Phoenix had just wired. With the added explosives Phoenix had set, it blew it sky high. The force of the explosion picked Phoenix up and hurled him through the air, slamming him against the other building. Shit that hurt.

  Phoenix pushed himself onto his knees, pain screaming through his chest and ribs. He tried to stand, using the building for support, but he was too dizzy and the pain was crippling. He fell back down on his ass and scooted up against the side of the building, breathing deeply to try and stop his head from spinning.

  Phoenix watched as the chopper landed and two men got out. Come a little closer you fuckers Phoenix thought as he pulled the gun from the holster on his thigh. Reaching up with his left hand, he wiped the blood out of his eyes. Squinting, he tried to keep the men in his sights as he gripped the Glock tightly. All he could think about was killing the bastards so they did not get to Serenity. There was no way he was letting them take her back.

  As Phoenix waited for the men to get close enough so he could do some damage, a small black wolf flew out from behind the building tackling one of them. The wolf wasn’t very big, but the man wasn’t expecting it and he went down easily. Not pausing, the wolf sank its teeth into his throat and bit down hard tearing it out. Phoenix raised his gun trying to get a bead on the other guy moving towards the wolf. Just as the man reached the wolf, Phoenix pulled the trigger and dropped the bastard to the ground.

  The wolf came over to Phoenix, lying at his feet whining softly. Looking into the captivating brown eyes, Phoenix reached out and gently stroked her head. “Serenity?’ he questioned softly somehow knowing it was her. Pushing her head into his palm, Serenity let a sound of pleasure rumble in her throat. “Thank you, my Beauty,” he whispered to his mate. “Let’s get out of here.” Groaning softly, Phoenix once again pushed himself up into a standing position. Just as he began to slide back down, he felt someone grab him and pull him back up.

  “I gotcha, buddy,” Nico said. Phoenix cursed as Nico pulled his arm up around Nico’s shoulders and slipped his own arm around Phoenix’s back. “Talk to me. What’s the damage?”

  “Busted ribs, concussion, and something’s stuck in my leg,” Phoenix muttered. “Let’s go. Gotta get Serenity out of here.” As they started moving towards where they had left the ATV’s, Serenity yipped. When they turned around, she took off towards the running helicopter. Turning back around, she yipped again. Why not? Phoenix thought.

  As Phoenix and Nico followed Serenity to the helicopter, Jaxson and Bran came out from behind the building and ran their way. Once they reached the helicopter, Jaxson and Bran jumped up front to pilot, while Nico and Phoenix sat down in back. Serenity jumped into the chopper and crawled over to Phoenix resting her head on his leg. He gently stroked her head and neck as Nico checked out his thigh where a piece of tin was sticking out of it from the roof of the building that Phoenix had blown. Phoenix sunk his fingers into Serenity’s soft fur and tightened his grip as the chopper lifted off the ground.

  “This might have hit an artery,” Nico told him. “I’m going to wait to take it out until we get to our plane just in case. I’ll tape your ribs up then too.” Phoenix nodded and leaned back closing is eyes. He was so tired. He had not slept in days, and now that Serenity was near, he could not stay awake. “Oh, no you don’t, brother,” Nico said shaking Phoenix back awake. “You don’t get to pass out with a concussion.”

  Serenity whined, licking his hand and nipping at it. He chuckled softly, “It’s all good, Beauty. I promise not to pass out on you. Why don’t you change back and talk to me?”

  “Because she would be naked,” Nico said with a smirk. “I don’t care if we are like brothers, I don’t think you want me to see your woman naked.”

  Phoenix narrowed his eyes at him and growled, “You’re damn right I don’t! Go look at your own mate.”

  Laughing again, Nico told him, “Trust me, I will.” Ten minutes later the helicopter touched the ground a few yards away from RARE’s plane and Jaxson went through the motions of shutting it down. Once everyone was out of the helicopter, Nico looked over at Phoenix with his eyebrows raised. “What do you have to take care of this chopper?”

  “I got just the thing,” Phoenix said nodding towards their plane. “In my bag in the back.” Nico ran towards the jet to get the bag while Phoenix stood next to the chopper, his hand braced against it to hold him up. When Nico returned, Phoenix took his bag from him and pulled out one of his toys. He rigged the explosive to the side of the chopper, set the timer for 20 minutes, and with Nico’s help made his way to the jet. Slowly they climbed up the stairs into the plane with Serenity following close behind, still in her wolf form.

  Holy hell, Phoenix hurt. Nico lead him to the back of the plane where he had Phoenix lie down on the floor while he got out his first aid kit. Ripping Phoenix’s jeans open above the knee, Nico carefully inspected the wound. “You’re lucky, Phoenix,” he said. “It’s not in an artery. This is gonna hurt like a bitch though.” That was all the warning Nico gave before he yanked the tin from Phoenix’s leg. Phoenix let out a strangled gasp and passed out. Working quickly, Nico cleaned and stitched the wound, Serenity growling at him the whole time. She was one pissed off wolf. After he was done, Nico went over to Phoenix’s bag and found Serenity a tee shirt.

  “He is going to be fine, Serenity. Trust me,” Nico said. “You might want to shift before the rest of the team shows up.” Placing the shirt on the floor beside her, Nico turned and headed to the front of the plane to wait for his team.

  Phoenix woke up to the most beautiful sound he had ever heard, Serenity’s voice. “Wake up, Phoenix,” she demanded softly. “Wake up for me, my sexy mate.” He moaned and moved his head toward her voice. “I am here, Phoenix. I am here with you. Wake up and see me.”

  She trailed a hand down the side of his face and then traced the tattoo that ran down his neck. She ran her hand over his shoulder and down his arm, tracing the muscles as she went. He shivered at her touch, his cock immediately hardening. “Are you with me?” she asked him softly.

  With her? Fuck yeah he was with her. As Phoenix opened his mouth to tell her just how with her he was, he heard other voices. He reached for his Glock, but she grabbed his arm before he could take it out of its holder. “It’s ok. Your team just got here and we are getting ready to take off. We are safe now, Phoenix. Rest.”

  As Phoenix opened his eyes, pain sliced through his head. Crap, that wasn’t good was it? He closed his eyes again on a groan. Shit, he probably did have a concussion. It fucking hurt.

  “Shhh,” he heard Serenity whisper. She reached up and placed one of her hands on his head and the other on his ribs. All of the sudden, sharp pain slammed through him. Crying out, his body arched up and then slammed back to the floor. What the fuck was going on? The pain was worsening; no it was lessening. What the fuck? How was that possible?

  “No, Serenity, no!” Rikki yelled. “Phoenix would not want you to do that!” Do what? What was she doing? Phoenix tried to remain conscious, but it was a losing battle. Slipping into darkness, his last thought was of Serenity’s beautiful brown eyes.

  When Phoenix came to again, he gradually opened his eyes waiting for the blinding pain to hit him, only this time there was nothing. In confusion, he opened his eyes all the way and slowly looked around. Rikki was sitting beside him with Serenity’s head in her lap. She was gently stroking Serenity’s long dark hair out of her face. What the hell had happened? Moving carefully, Phoenix slowly sat up. The pain in his head was gone. His ribs were sore, but nothing like before. Even his leg felt a lot better.

  “Sh
e healed you and took your pain,” Rikki said as she continued stroking Serenity’s hair. “She did the same for me when I was shot. After healing me, it took her four days to recover. I was afraid she wasn’t going to make it. She was running a high fever and was so pale. And she would cry out in pain, her body trembling.”

  Phoenix looked at Serenity in horror. At her pale face, the shadows under her eyes, the grimace on her lips. She had taken his pain? How could she handle so much pain in her tiny body? Feeling groggy, but with the pain just a dull ache now, Phoenix scooted over next to Serenity. Reaching down, he gathered her up into his arms and held her close. Rocking her gently back and forth, he kissed her on the top of her head, her cheek, her pert little nose. She moaned softly as if in pain, and Phoenix snuggled her closer. He was supposed to be protecting her; instead, she was protecting him.

  “Tell them to hurry the hell up,” he growled at Rikki. “We need to get Serenity to Doc Josie now.” Leaning back, Phoenix held Serenity close, talking to her the entire flight to Denver about anything and everything. She probably would not remember any of it. But it made him feel better and he was hoping that if she was conscious on some level, hearing his voice was making her feel better too.

  Chapter 15

  As soon as the jet touched down in Denver, everyone immediately gathered their gear and exited the plane moving towards the waiting SUVs. Driving pedal to the metal, they ended up at the White River wolves’ compound in record time. When the SUV stopped in front of the hospital, Phoenix gathered Serenity in his arms and hit the ground running. She was still unconscious from healing Phoenix on the plane and he was scared to death. He had not just found his mate to lose her again. Oh, hell no. Phoenix yelled for Doc Josie, the doctor for the White River wolves, as he took the stairs two at a time. The minute he cleared the hospital entrance, Doc Josie was there. “Put her in the first room,” she ordered and motioned for two nurses to follow her.