Primal Instinct

by Ally Parker

  Taryn closed the distance, and with quick movements that spoke of experience, drew the medicine into the syringe, pushed air bubbles out, and directly administered the sedative into an IV line. Two minutes later, all movement stopped, and an eerie silence descended around them.

  Kenzie’s eyes widened to the size of the wheels on the medical bed. “Will she be okay?”

  Glancing up, Cadence sniffed toward her and frowned. “She will be. Push that trolley closer, will you?”

  Kenzie rounded the bed, and Cadence got to work cleaning her wounds and applying fresh dressings. Cadence flicked her a glance. “It’s Mackenzie, isn’t it? Welcome. It’s always nice to have more females to even out all the testosterone around this place.”

  Kenzie smiled. It was a shame she wasn’t going to be able to stick around. While Cadence fixed Leila, she glanced around the medical room. “Is Milly with her father?”

  Cadence shook her head as she applied a dressing on the wound she had just sewn up. “Lucas, Milly’s father, went to help defend the pack. Hayden, another female, offered to take Milly to a more secure location.”

  Lucas. Hadn’t the wolf that bit her been called Lucas? Could they be the same creature? Maybe when they came back from fighting she’d find out. If they came back. Lying in wait while danger hovered outside made adrenaline shake under her skin. “Doesn’t this drive you crazy?”

  Both women cast her questioning glances. Kenzie put on some gloves and disposed of the dirty items Cadence used. “Relying on someone else to keep you safe.”

  Taryn smiled; the action lit up her face, making her dark-brown eyes sparkle. “With every fiber of our body. But after spending centuries seeing what happens to our males when they can’t find their mate, we understand their need to keep us sheltered.”

  Taryn shrugged, walked over to a basin, and threw the syringe into a sharps container before washing her hands. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she cocked a brow. “Of course, that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to defend ourselves. It just means we don’t take unnecessary risks.”

  “Now that Leila is resting, how about we go check on Milly?” Taryn asked as she dried her hands. That might be able to distract you.”

  “Sounds good.” It would be nice to see Milly again. She couldn’t begin to image what the kid had gone through.

  After saying good-bye, they left Leila in Cadence’s capable hands. Going another round at the tunnel maze, they came up to a reinforced steel door. Outside housed a small screen that Taryn pressed her thumb against. Light scanned over the digit before the door unlocked. The room looked as ordinary as any of the others Kenzie had been in. Until she cast her eyes on the far wall, where a large safe stood. Going by the smell of the gunpowder, Kenzie assumed a small arsenal was stored there. Lighting from the television flickered, and on the sofa, small golden curls drew her attention.

  A woman with cherry-red hair sat beside Milly, gently stroking her head. She inhaled audibly. “You must be Mackenzie. I’m Hayden. It’s so nice to have a new member of the family.”

  Kenzie couldn’t help but smile. There was something warm and comforting about Hayden that set her at ease. Milly whimpered, drawing everyone’s attention.

  “Shhh, it’s okay, sweetie, you’re safe.” Hayden brushed the curls from her face, and Milly settled. “The poor thing is so exhausted. Every time she falls asleep the nightmares start.”

  Kenzie bet they did. From the things she has seen at Delmac, Kenzie thought she’d have her own nightmares to deal with. Delmac had a lot to answer for; the knowledge she was helping those assholes chilled her to the core. She shivered, and the guilt swirled in her stomach, making her feel sick.

  Taryn’s hand rested on her arm, and Kenzie jolted.

  “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

  Licking her lips, Kenzie sucked down a breath. “I’m fine. I think I just need to lie down.”

  “I’ll take you back to the infirmary, and Cadence can look at you.”

  Kenzie shook her head. Unless they had some drug to cure guilt, there was nothing Cadence could do. “Jaxx’s room will be fine.”

  Taryn led the way out of the room. They walked in silence down the corridors. What was she going to do? There was no question, she had to save her sister, but how could she turn her back on these people? What would happen to them if Delmac got their hands on them? With each question that popped into her head, more guilt weighed her down. By the time they made it back to Jaxx’s room, she could barely breathe.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

  Kenzie waved Taryn off. “I’m fine. I just need to lie down.”

  Taryn’s lips thinned, and she nodded. “Okay but if you need anything, sing out. I’ll hear you.”

  Blowing out a breath, Kenzie walked over and collapsed onto the sofa

  “Shit!” Her mind whirled. No matter what choice she made, lives would be ruined. She needed to end this situation. Yanking the cell from her pocket, she thumbed a message to Kali. Her choice was made, and no matter the cost, she had to find the strength to see things through.

  12

  Jaxx crested the hill, storming to the den’s back entrance. The sooner he disposed of the Dark Falls male, the sooner he would get back to Kenzie. They had unfinished business to discuss. Cade cut across the hill and beelined straight for them. He shifted, his blue gaze glowing, like always. “Your fille is making a run for it. Want me to stop her?”

  Rooted to the spot, Jaxx stared at the Cajun, not sure if he’d heard the male right. “No, she can’t be. Kenzie is safe and sound in my quarters, where I left her.”

  Cade’s brows hiked up. “Your fille isn’t yay big.” He held up his hand to his chest. “Silvery-brown hair, dressed in sweats and a tee reeking of you?”

  Damn it! It was her. What the fuck! He’d explicitly told her to not put herself in danger. Running through a battlefield was no way to keep her end of the bargain. Vibrations rumbled from his chest, and his canines exploded in his mouth. Fire fanned across his hip, and he glanced down and swallowed. Hit by another glyph marking.

  He shook his head. “I’ll handle this.”

  Cade stared at the new marking and frowned.

  “It’s fine. I’m going to be fine.” Was he, though? His chest ached. A deep, hollow pit radiated from the center of his body, and inside something dark and dangerous lurked. It physically hurt him that Kenzie was running. He couldn’t let her leave, alone. His DNA wouldn’t allow it. He blew out a breath. As much as it pained him, he would bring her back to safety—by any means necessary.

  Adjusting his burden, he kicked his chin toward Quinn. “Can you secure Ryker’s man in a cell and update Saint? Seb, you’re with me.”

  He would have rather hunted Kenzie alone. But with Dark Falls floating around, he might need backup. Quinn stepped forward. “Will do. Don’t worry—our captive will be in good hands.”

  A sneer spread across Quinn’s face, promising a buttload of hurt. As he passed the prisoner to Quinn he warned. “Careful, we need him in shape to tell us Ryker’s plans.”

  Quinn’s lip curled and, nodding once, he strode toward the den.

  “Cade, ensure their safe passage.”

  “On it. Your fille was headed toward the back of the compound, toward Meadowlark Lake.” Cade shifted and dashed away, his paws tearing up the ground.

  Jaxx sniffed the air. Blood and the wolves of Dark Falls hit his senses. If Ryker’s men got hold of Kenzie, the moon only knew what would happen. He leaped into the air, changing before his paws hit the ground. His lungs expanded, and he raced toward his mate, the wind rippling in his fur.

  The back fence came into view, and they both sailed over it and hit the ground running. Vanilla hung in the air like a trail guiding him to his treasure. “This way.”

  “Why would your woman run? Doesn’t she know what will happen if you don’t complete the mating?”

  The pain in his chest clamped tighter. She doesn’t want me.
Maybe if he’d explained the situation clearer he wouldn’t be hightailing it through the woods chasing his unclaimed mate? Words weren’t something he was good at, and the flaw might cost him everything.

  Kenzie’s trail led them through the dense wilderness behind the den. She had kept to the thick foliage, sheltering her from sight. Not that it would help if a member of the Dark Falls pack was close by; they’d smell her a mile away.

  Miles passed, and Kenzie’s scent grew stronger. The sound of a car exhaust rumbled, and Jaxx’s stomach nose-dived. Beside him, Seb’s ears twitched. “What the hell is a car doing all the way out here?”

  “I doubt it’s to check out the scenery.” How had his little wolf contacted someone? Or, a better question was—who?

  Ducking low, Jaxx inched forward, keeping his belly close to the ground. Taillights lit the area in a soft glow. A tinted window wound down, and his mate stepped out from bushes farther down the tree line.

  Seeing his female walk toward the car hurt more than when he’d realized he wasn’t good enough—and never would be good enough—for his old man. Seb inched forward, and Jaxx quickly said, “I want to see where this goes.”

  They couldn’t intervene, yet. He needed to know, needed to understand what his mate was up to. Poised in darkness, they sat and watched.

  “Were you followed?” a crisp, feminine voice demanded.

  Jaxx’s ears twitched. That voice sounds familiar. His mind worked, but he couldn’t place it.

  Kenzie started to play with a thread that had come lose on his shirt before she caught herself. “Of course not. This isn’t my first rodeo.”

  What the hell did that mean? His gut clenched, and he didn’t have a good feeling about where the little rendezvous was going.

  “Get in,” the female said.

  Kenzie glanced around, as if searching for someone—could she sense he was near? His heart thudded, and he swore he could feel his blood pressure rise. Don’t do it. Kenzie leaned into the window. Thank God for small mercies.

  “Can you get a visual on the driver?” Seb asked.

  “No.” Damn it, he couldn’t. Yet, when the window had lowered, he had picked up a familiar smell under the scent of leather and perfume. Another disturbing stench he couldn’t miss was an underlying medical odor from Delmac.

  “Delmac,” Seb growled.

  “Wait! We need more information.” There was a slim chance that maybe his female wasn’t in the midst of betraying him, Shadow Moon, and all of their kind.

  “Have you completed your mission so soon?” the female purred.

  Mission? His stomach twisted. It was worse than he’d thought.

  “I have more than enough intel, but things have changed. I realized I don’t have to have my narrative written for me. It’s my life, and I get to decide what happens next.”

  His mate’s words cut him to the quick. He glanced at Seb and back to the car, swallowing hard. “We need to bring them both back. Whatever happens, I’ll deal with Kenzie. Got it?”

  Silence stretched between them.

  “Got it?” Jaxx prompted.

  “Loud and clear.”

  He didn’t know how he was going to fix this, but he had to stop it before Kenzie incriminated herself further. As her mate, he might be able to omit some truths, but Seb wouldn’t. He spared a glance toward the male and wondered, if push came to shove, would he kill his pack mate to keep Kenzie safe? Keeping to the shadows, he moved toward the car and prayed he wouldn’t need to find out.

  “Get in the car now, or I’m leaving.” Kali tapped a finger on the steering wheel.

  Kenzie squared her shoulders. On one hand she really didn’t want to be trapped in the confines of the car with Kali. On the other, she might never get another opportunity to negotiate. She glanced around, clenched her jaw, and slid in. No matter what, her situation was about to change. Facing Kali had been a calculated risk on her part. She just hoped it paid off. The last thing she wanted was for Ava to be hurt, but now the playing field had evened up. She might finally stand a chance to get their freedom back.

  Kali arched a brow, craning her head to the side. Her lips flattened and pulled down at the edges. “So you think you can change the rules, do you?” She clucked her tongue. “What gives you that impression, I wonder?”

  Doing a double-take, Kali’s eyes widened, and she leaned forward. Her arm shot out, and she swept the hair away from Kenzie’s neck. Sucking in a breath, Kali’s burning gaze fixated on the bite Jaxx had given her. “Fuck. I know that stench from anywhere! What have you done?”

  Kali jerked back as if Kenzie had some kind of infectious disease, and checked the mirrors.

  Kenzie steeled her nerves. “I think we should focus on how things will be going down from now on.”

  Laughing, Kali’s gaze searched the perimeter of the area. What was she looking for? It was with great care she had made her way to the meeting point. Kenzie canvassed the area too. Nothing could interrupt her negotiations.

  “You think because you’re mated to some asshole, you can threaten me?”

  On their own accord, Kenzie’s eyes shot to Kali. “Mated?”

  Kali searched her gaze and threw her head back against the headrest. “You don’t even know, do you?” She raised her brows. “It’s not surprising, really. In my experience the males of our species tend to take what they want. It’s not right. Did you complete the mating?”

  Kali’s words took a minute to sink in. Jaxx had mated her? No. He’d told her she was his mate, but they hadn’t discussed them actually being mated.

  “Answer me. Did you bite him?”

  Jaxx wouldn’t do that to her, take away her choice. Kali must have had it wrong.

  “Did you bite him? Did you complete the mating with Jaxx?” Kali’s arm shot out, her hand wrapping around Kenzie’s wrist.

  “Mate?”

  Kali made a noise of frustration. “Sex. Did you sleep with him?”

  Hang on a second. How the hell did Kali know his name? She thought back over the conversation and she hadn’t mentioned Jaxx. “I never told you Jaxx’s name.”

  Kali’s nails sunk deeper. Her eyes lit up, and her teeth extended. “Answer me!”

  Hardening her jaw, Kenzie yanked her arm free. “We can talk about many things, Kali, but who I sleep with isn’t one of them.”

  Kali drew in a breath and froze, her eyes flared wide with panic, and she snatched her arm back, fumbling to put the car in gear. “We’ll discuss this later. We have to leave, now!”

  As if choreographed, both doors yanked open. Spinning in her seat, Kenzie faced a very naked, very pissed-off-looking Jaxx. An arc of emotions fanned over her. Was he okay? How did he find her? Did he really bind them together without her consent or knowledge? “What are you doing here?”

  Jaxx arched a brow, his lips levelling into a thin line. “I should ask you the same question.” He braced an arm on the hood of the SUV and leaned into the car. “I can assure you both, I’ll be calling the shots on how this will go down from here on out.”

  He pointedly looked at her, hurt shining in his eyes. Obviously, he’d listen to their conversation for a while, to throw her earlier words back in her face. At the end of the day, she had a right to defend her family. So why did she feel like a piece of shit? “It’s not what it looks like.”

  Seb tsked from outside Kali’s door. The female had sprung from the car and was caught in a net of Seb’s strength. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  Jaxx glanced toward Kali and did a double-take. “Kali? What the fuck?”

  Kenzie’s eyes widened, and she jerked her head around. Her Jaxx knew Kali—the female that had been pulling her strings like a puppeteer? Kali lifted a perfectly arched brow. “The notorious Jaxx Reynolds. I recognized your stench as soon as it hit my nose. You’re meant to be dead.”

  Seb jerked Kali closer. “You know this female?”

  Hmm, Kenzie was damn interested in how he knew Kali too. He stared down at her, b
etrayal and hurt shone deep within his gaze, and she hated that she’d been the one to put it there. The emotion flickered like the flame on a candle—there one second, snuffed out the next. He jerked his head back to Seb.

  “Keep an eye on her. If given the opportunity, she will exploit any weakness.”

  A sound of annoyance hummed in Kali’s throat. “I’ve been trained well, wouldn’t you say, Jaxx?”

  Jaxx snorted. “Seb, jump in the back. Don’t take your eyes off of her for a second.”

  Seb wrangled Kali into the backseat. Kali growled. “Get your paws off me, damn it!”

  “Not a chance.” Seb shackled his hands around her wrists and positioned them so there would be no escape.

  His tone brooked no argument. Jaxx’s nostrils flared. “You’re hurt.” His hand reached in and wrapped around Kenzie’s arm where Kali had clawed her, inspecting the wound. She winced. A low and dangerous rumble rattled out of him.

  Kali clucked her tongue. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. It’s a superficial flesh wound. It’ll heal before sunrise.”

  Jaxx’s eyes scanned over her, the bite of his tone softening at the edges. “Are you injured anywhere else?”

  She shook her head. Jaxx was hurting too; it shone in his eyes and wafted off his skin, and it was all because of her. The knowledge felt like bile burning at the back of her throat. “Jaxx—”

  “We should get back to the compound and secure the females.” Seb’s eyes blazed with silver fire directed her way, and Kenzie swallowed down panic.

  Jaxx shut the door, rounded the car, and slid into the driver’s seat. Kenzie bit her lip. Trouble didn’t begin to describe what she was in. Her stomach churned. The situation looked bad, and considering she’d been sent to spy on them, would anyone believe a word she said? Jaxx blew out a breath, and she could feel his gaze burning on her. Jaxx swung the wheel to the right and did a U-bolt back toward the compound.

  “You can’t do this!” Kali hollered from the back seat.