by Ally Parker
She pulled back, and her wolf’s iridescent-blue gaze shone through. “But what if Saint wants to have me locked up?”
He wouldn’t allow himself to consider such a possibility. “He won’t.”
If he did, Jaxx didn’t know what he’d do. Kenzie chewed on some bacon and asked, “Did your mom teach you how to cook?”
“I never knew my mother.”
Dropping her fork, Kenzie abruptly glanced at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
His shoulders lifted for a moment. “You’re my mate. There is no such thing as prying.”
He rarely spoke of his time before joining Shadow Moon, but for Kenzie he would. For all he knew his mother could still be out there. “I don’t know if she’s alive or dead. My father was many things. Alpha, strong, resourceful. He was also a sadistic psychopath, always hungry for females, power, and the next kill.”
Jaxx topped up Kenzie’s glass of juice and gulped his glass down. “He believed humans were nothing but sport. Weak and pathetic, put on earth for our enjoyment. He lived without law, shifter or otherwise. Roaming from territory to territory, killing humans like some twisted sport, and toward the end of my time with him, even shifters and weres.”
Kenzie stopped eating; she leaned forward and wrapped her hand over his. “He sounds like a monster. How did you survive?”
Fighting dirty and doing whatever it took to survive. While the scars his father delivered had long since healed, the ones marring his soul would always be there. “Because there was no other option.”
Kenzie would get that more than anyone. Would he change things if given the chance? Most likely not. The events in his life had shaped him into who he was now and given him the strength to wait for his little wolf.
It took some self-control, but Jaxx moved away from his mate and placed his dishes in the sink. Being so close to her played with his head and made his thoughts circle how perfect she was, how her fingers traced so tenderly over his wolf glyph, or how her hair, soft as a kiss, brushed against his skin. Damn it, she was addictive. He shook his head. Focus. He needed focus. How was he to win Kenzie’s heart if he couldn’t even prove he was a man of his word—prove that he was worthy to be her mate?
Her lips curved. “Thank you for doing this, Jaxx.”
Muttering a curse, he closed the gap. Within seconds he’d claimed her lips. By the time he was done both their eyes shone with need. He tore himself away and promised himself to make it up to them both later.
With each step away from his mate, Jaxx reminded himself she was only a thought away. Now that they had mated, he would be able to always reach her. He made his way through the corridors toward Kali’s cell. He needed answers, and answers he’d get. Though he had long left the ways of his father, he would never forget the lessons gifted to him. If Kali pushed him, she too would get a reminder of what a monster lay deep within his soul. Each clipped step brought him closer to the southern end of the hall where Cade and Seb had brought Ryker’s man. He scented Saint before the door opened. His alpha stepped into the dim light, though Jaxx had no trouble seeing him. Dots of blood arced across his shirt and his face.
“I see you’ve been busy,” Jaxx muttered.
Saint wiped the blood from his hands with a cloth and shoved the material into his pants pocket. “A little more than I’d like. After getting to know Samson.” He flicked his head toward the cell that held Ryker’s man—. “I have to give him credit. He lasted five minutes longer than I anticipated before he caved and told us everything.”
Jaxx’s brows lifted. Samson must have been a strong wolf to have shocked Saint. “And? Anything we can use?”
“Not really. All we know is that it was just a test.”
That had him pausing. “A test? On our defenses?”
Saint shrugged. “Who knows? Our defenses, protocols, strengths—or it could have been just of my resolve for our negotiations on the females.”
Biting back a growl, Jaxx asked, “Do we know if there will be a repeat?”
“No. It won’t matter. I’m calling back all shifters and weres. We won’t be caught off guard again.” They both started walking. Jaxx nodded in agreement. His fur still stood on end at the thought of their territory being breached. Damn straight it wouldn’t happen again. “What will happen to Samson now?”
Saint kept his demeanor neutral. “I’m turning him over to the council. Family ties can only take you so far—Ryker has definitely made it loud and clear where I stand, so there won’t be any leniency from me.”
Tension arced across Jaxx’s shoulders. He needed to find out what Saint’s intentions were regarding his mate. “Saint. About Kenzie... ”
“I made my decision,” Saint murmured. “Despite her transgressions there was no real harm, and now that you’re mated, it strengthens the pack, giving us an edge not many have. I will agree to absolve her transgressions, help her sister, and bring down Delmac in the process.”
Jaxx blew out a breath and sagged with relief.
“But hear me well; if I catch even a whiff of deceit rolling off her, I’ll hand her ass to the council regardless of your value to the pack.”
He could live with that.
They neared the cell where Kali was being held, and Saint asked, “I take it you want to join me while I question Kali?”
Jaxx knew Kali would be able to hear their conversation now. Already mapped out in his head exactly how he’d get answers, he purposefully let anger filter through his tone. “Actually, I want to question her myself. I know Kali’s weaknesses, and I won’t hesitate to use them against her.”
16
Jaxx sucked in a breath and boarded up his emotions. He hated himself for what he was about to do, but when it came to his mate, nothing was off limits. Thoughts of his father didn’t often star in his mind. Enduring the male’s brutality was hard enough the first time, let alone rehashing it. Kali better not push him; he didn’t want to know if he was capable of cruelty at his father’s level.
Entering Kali’s cell, he took measured steps toward her, his enhanced hearing not missing how her breath hitched. Kali stood tall, her muscles bunched and looking defiant as ever. Just the way he always remembered her. He took a step forward. “You know why I’m here, Kali.”
“Hurt me all you want, Jaxx. I won’t tell you a thing.”
He cocked his head to the side, studying her. Considering their past, it didn’t surprise him she thought he meant to physically hurt her. It was something his father would have done. But it would be a cold day in hell before he ever touched a female like that. “The only time my hands touch a female is for pleasure. As I’m sure my mate will agree.”
Her lip curled slightly, her gaze hardening. “You’re wasting your time. Give up now. I won’t break. I need this too bad, damn it.”
He couldn’t fall victim to Kali’s turmoil. Not now. “Don’t be stupid, Kali. Tell me what I want to know.”
The chains rattled as she adjusted her stance, looking away from him. “Are we done?”
Growling, he persisted. “You know the council will put you on trial. Maybe if you assist in our investigation, they will be lenient with you?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “You don’t really believe that.”
“Damn it! You’re a fool. Clear your conscience and help save an innocent.”
“Like how someone saved me? Oh, right. They didn’t.”
Obviously referring to him. He swallowed. The pain of her words hit their mark. Back in the days under his father’s rule he had failed her. Not for a lack of trying. The last attempt at challenging his father had left him inches from death—bound and buried alive. Thank the moon Saint had found him. By the time he had recovered, his father, the Outlaws, and Kali were gone.
He took what she said, absorbing and owning each word. While he may have regrets, he wasn’t the same shifter, and right then, he needed to step up and do what it took to save an innocent.
“Listen…”
“No! You listen. Whatever the council has planned for me will be a walk in the park compared to what Delmac will do to me if they find out I snitched. Not to mention your father.”
It wouldn’t be death. That was a mercy not meant for traitors, and the fact Kali was here, now running from the Outlaws, meant she wasn’t released willingly. “Join Shadow Moon. We can protect you.”
Kali laughed. “Your alpha won’t accept me. No one will.” Resolve shone from the depths of her dark gaze.
He sighed; it looked like it was the hard way after all. Without a word Jaxx walked over and shut off the lights, leaving them in darkness that would leave a human blind.
Dropping his voice, true sadness laced his words. “You leave me no choice.”
She sucked in a breath. “What do you plan on doing to me?”
Her breaths sawed in hard and fast, and deep down he knew he’d be carrying that moment with the rest of his baggage. But lives were on the line.
“Do you remember how my father punished those who wouldn’t submit?”
The scent of fear dosed the room. She remembered. No one could ever forget getting buried alive. By the moon, he was a monster. Maybe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, after all.
“Did you ever wonder if the oxygen in the head box would last the days underground? I did. For a period I was shit-scared of the dark and confined spaces. Those fears were squashed, courtesy of good ole daddio.”
Pacing closer to Kali, the scent of her fear intensified. “I wonder, did he cure you of your fears too?”
Doubtful, if the way her heart rate sped up was any indication. Amber eyes shone bright, and he knew her claws would be ready to rip him apart. He attempted one more time to reach her. Don’t make me do this, damn it. “Tell me, and we won’t have to find out. Give me the location, anything to go on.”
Still, she remained silent. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved the mask he’d asked Seb to get for him.
Kali cleared her throat, her voice nothing more than a whisper. “Don’t do this.”
“Tell me what I want, and I won’t.”
He lifted the mask, readying it to secure on her face. Eyes as wide as dinner plates, she glanced from the mask to the wall back to the mask again, frantic. This was the sort of shit Jefferson did, not him. Closing his eyes, he thought about his mate and everything Delmac had done to her, Ava, and his protégé. He thought about Kali’s role, allowing the torture of innocents, and he steeled himself.
Panic consumed her features. She hadn’t even noticed the mask wasn’t connected to tubing nor was an oxygen cylinder in the room. The tactic a bluff, nothing else. It looked as though she was about to call him on it. Straining against the shackles, she slammed her head back against the stone wall with one fast and hard snap of her neck. An audible crack cut across the room.
Her eyes closed, and her head lolled forward.
“Shit!”
That wasn’t exactly how he had envisioned the situation ending. Saint appeared in the room, taking in the scene. He arched a brow. “Plan B?”
Jaxx heaved out a breath. “Plan B,” he agreed. “We better prepare her for transport. You know that damn vampire won’t step foot on our territory.”
Saint nodded. “Get it organized. I’ll make the call.”
He glanced back at Kali; it didn’t look like she would be awake anytime soon. Actually, he would be making sure of that. All he needed was some of that shifter knockout-drug, and they would be able to easily and safely move Kali to the SUV. Crumpling the oxygen mask, he shoved it back into his pocket and headed to the infirmary.
“What were you doing in there?” His mate’s voice caressed him, washing away everything that had just transpired. He couldn’t stop the curve of his lips, still amazed she had this power over him. He turned to face her. She glanced from the open door of Kali’s cell before swinging her attention back to him.
“We need answers.” His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I tried to get them.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Did Kali tell you where Ava is?”
The hopeful note in her voice wiped the smile off his face. “We are going to try alternative methods.”
Gesturing for Kenzie to walk with him, they made their way to medical.
“What exactly does that mean?”
Because he could, he reached over and clasped her hand within his, savoring the softness of her touch. “Sometimes our pack consults with services only a vampire can offer. Vampires like Bastian Michelson. He’ll do just about anything you want, for a price.”
She glanced up at him. “I’m sensing some animosity.”
All he was sensing was the scent of his mate, the feel of her skin, and the way her eyes stared into his, as if she was starving and only he could quench her hunger. Attempting to keep his mind on the conversation, he said, “I don’t doubt his skill set. I just find it hard to trust people whose loyalty bounces, depending on where the checks are coming from.”
“What exactly is his skill set?”
“Bastian has many skills, I’m sure. But for our purposes he will be going into Kali’s mind and retrieving information.”
Kenzie was quiet for a moment, obviously taking in the information he’d given her.
She ran her teeth over the edge of her bottom lip. “Will it hurt her?”
Knowing Kali would fight until the end, it would probably feel like her head was being ripped apart. “As long as she cooperates, she won’t feel a thing.”
Before she could venture further into the conversation, Jaxx stopped and pulled Kenzie flush against him. He just needed a little fix to keep his mind off ripping her clothes off and taking her against the wall. Leading their entwined hands up to his neck, his hand snaked down and wrapped around her waist.
“What are you doing?” Her breathy whisper fanned across his skin.
“I just need this. Please don’t deny me.”
He waited a heartbeat and claimed her lips. Keeping his touch soft, he gently ran his hand along her arm, up her neck, and his thumb stroked across her cheek. Immediately, she sank into the kiss, pushing herself against his torso. Both her arms flexed against his shoulders, hauling him closer.
She moaned.
His hands flexed around the curve of her waist.
“What the hell…”
Jaxx recognized Lucas’s voice. Kenzie responded before he could pull himself from her spell. What the hell was wrong with him? Now that he was mated, it seemed being away from his little wolf equaled a sex-crazed animal unable to control his urges. Kenzie rested her forehead on his and drew in a deep breath. Straightening, he faced his charge.
He pulled Kenzie snug against his side. “Lucas, this is Mackenzie, my mate.”
She glanced at him, her brows drawing together. “Lucas, the same Lucas that bit me?”
His lips tightened into a grim line and cast his female a sidelong glance. “Delmac forced him to bite many people. If he refused they hurt his mate. His reluctance nearly cost Leila her life.”
He looked at Lucas and smiled. “This is also the female responsible for getting Milly to safety. She wasn’t trying to hurt her as you feared.”
Lucas nodded, the horrors of the last few days ghosting over his face. “Yeah, Saint explained everything.”
Beside him, Kenzie tensed, her muscles going ramrod straight.
“You thought I was going to hurt your daughter?”
Lucas shuffled from side to side. “In fairness, my family had been tortured, and I’d just had my first shift, alone. I wasn’t thinking very clearly, and you wore a lab coat reeking of Delmac.”
Jaxx watched the way Kenzie’s features softened.
“When you put it like that, I can see why you’d have that impression.”
Lucas closed his eyes, and when his eyes opened, his wolf was present. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for biting you. You have to believe I never wanted to, but I couldn’t sacrifice my family.”
His mate had never as
ked for this life, but it never ceased to amaze him how well she continuously adapted to each situation. Kenzie pulled from Jaxx’s side and took a step toward Lucas. “I get it. I’ve done a lot of things against my will to save family.”
She wrapped her palm around Lucas’s bicep and squeezed. “If I’m honest, the perks haven’t been too bad. If you don’t consider the pain of changing, the blood, and mayhem that seems to trail behind me like a shadow.”
Lucas chuckled. Jaxx watched as the corner of Kenzie’s lips tugged up. The oddest sensation fluttered in his chest. Even though he was proud of his mate, it was something else. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.
“How is Leila doing?” Kenzie asked.
Jaxx scented the air, smelling the female’s scent all over Lucas, and smiled. His lips curved, and Lucas rocked back on his heels. “She made it! Cadence is just giving her the once-over. I was heading back to pick Milly up so we can take Leila back to our quarters.”
With Lucas’s home compromised, Jaxx was relieved Saint had found the space for Lucas and his family to hole up a while. No doubt Saint would offer a cabin home on the property. Lucas was the first family with a child to be let into their world. Another issue the council wouldn’t like.
“Don’t let us hold you up.” Gesturing to the corridor, Jaxx stepped back, allowing Lucas room to make his way past. Kicking his chin up, Lucas said his good-bye and continued toward medical.
“What’s going to happen to him?”
Jaxx looked down and met Kenzie’s gaze.
“I mean”—she shrugged—“hasn’t he broken laws? Won’t your government be pissed?”
He reached for her hand again, needing the connection. “This is an extreme situation. I’m not even sure there is a protocol for something like this. All I know is that Saint won’t let Lucas take the fall.”