by Maggie Walsh
“Where are we going?” Matthew walked toward Ash.
“We have a hideout not far from here. Let’s go quick.” Ash reached out and grabbed Matthew’s hand and started running, dragging Matthew with him. Matthew dug his heels in and pulled on his arm, stopping them.
“Wait. How do I know I can trust you? How do I know you’re not gonna take me to this sicko alpha you mentioned?”
“You don’t. You’ll just have to trust me.”
“Sorry, Ash, but I can’t do that.”
Another howl pierced the night, this time closer. Ash jumped. “Shit, man, we gotta get out of here. Let’s go!” he yelled in a whisper. Matthew stood his ground and shook his head. Ash’s face turned angry and he glared at Matthew. “Fine, be a stupid, stubborn fuck. Good luck.” And with that, Ash took off down the other end of the ally and away from Matthew.
Another howl rang out even closer, and Matthew disappeared into the woods faster than a toupee in a hurricane. He could hear them chasing as he tried to pump his legs faster. He wanted to shift into his wolf but was afraid it would take too long, and he didn’t think that the assholes chasing him would grant him a time out. He was running so fast he missed the branch sticking out under the leaves. His toe caught the edge of the branch and he tumbled forward. As he tried to catch himself he began to fall even faster and realized he was rolling down a steep bank. He hit the bottom with a sploosh as he sunk partway into the muddy mess.
The sound of the wolves was getting closer and he was just about stuck in the muck. Thinking quickly, he rolled around as best he could as he grabbed handfuls of the smelly mud and started coating himself with it. He heard a rustling coming from above and opened his eyes just enough to peer up at them. There stood three pretty big wolves and they were all sniffing the air. The one in the middle looked down where he had rolled. They slowly made their way down the bank and made it to the edge of the mud.
They stopped and sniffed the air again as they paced back and forth. Matthew held his breath hoping his luck wouldn’t run out. He must have gone farther out into the muck than he realized because the wolves never even looked his way. They just kept checking the edges and then suddenly they took off to the right and then back up the bank.
Matthew stayed there for about ten minutes just listening to see if they were gone. When he figured they had moved on he started belly crawling across the muddy surface. He was afraid that if he got on his knees or tried to stand, that he would sink in and the suction would trap him there. So he stayed on his belly to distribute his weight more evenly and slowly he made it to the bank. Grabbing onto roots and grass he was able to lift himself out of the muck. He walked along the bank in the opposite direction that the wolves ran until he found a low spot in the bank. He climbed up the bank and looked around. There was no sign of anything but the forest.
He was walking for about another ten minutes when he heard another howl and some rustling behind him. Matthew quickly looked around for somewhere to hide. He didn’t want to end up back in the mud because who knew if he could get lucky twice in the same hiding spot. He spotted three downed trees in a cluster and ran for it. He was in luck―under the trees was a small space that looked like someone had dug into the ground. He jumped down into the spot and pulled some leaves over him just in case. Then he watched as the beasts ran by at a face pace.
So now here he was, walking through this unknown forest. It was getting dark and he wasn’t even sure if he was going in the right direction anymore. Damn, he wished he had stayed home with Josh. He really missed his mate. He sighed and continued walking, hoping he wasn’t walking to his death.
Chapter 9
“Hey, Crew,” Micah called out from his office as Crew strolled past his open door. Crew stopped midstride and turned back. He popped his head into Micah’s office.
“Yes, Alpha?” Crew moved into the doorway.
“How you feeling?”
“Okay. A little tired, but good. I just wish this shit would stop, you know?”
“I know. We’re doing everything we can to find this demon and stop him. Your mate has been tearing the Underworld apart from what Phenex says.”
“I know. I just hope he’s okay,” Crew said with a sigh.
“We have to have faith that he knows what he’s doing and that his Legion brothers will have his back. Phenex only left them once to come give me an update, so Laylen has Phenex with him, too. He will do whatever he has to do to make sure his men are okay.”
“I know. Haven and I just miss him and we’re worried.”
“You’re good mates. Just stick together, help each other through it, and think positive. I know it’s easier said than done. But at this point it’s all you can do.”
“Thanks, Micah. I’ll try,” Crew said with a sad chuckle.
“How would you like to get your mind off of it for a little while?” Micah asked.
“Sure, what do you have in mind?”
“Would you be able to run an errand for me today? Normally I would take care of it or have Dante do it, but we both have to go to a meeting with the council.”
“Sure, what do you need, Micah?”
“I need you to run to my bank in the city and handle a transfer for me. I’ll have all the paperwork ready for you and I’ll call the bank and let them know you’re coming.”
“Sure, that’s no problem. Would it be okay if I took Haven with me? He still hasn’t seen much of Sanctuary or the surrounding area, and I would love to show him around.”
“Of course. Why don’t you make a day of it? Take your mate out for a day of enjoyment. I’ll let Gabe know you’re doing something for me and have him take you off patrol today.”
“How is Raith? You know, with the finding out he actually has two sons?”
“He and the others are due back later today. I haven’t told him about the twin yet.”
“If he needs anything, I’d be more than happy to go with him and help out,” Crew offered.
“I know, and thanks for the offer. Right now with this demon gunning for you, I would rather you stay closer to home just in case.”
“You’re right. But if he needs anything, just let me know.”
“I will. Thanks, brother. Too bad you couldn’t take both your mates with you today.”
“Yeah, maybe next time.”
“Try to have some fun with Haven and not think about it too much.”
“It’s just hard when I think about what he actually does, you know?”
“Yes, I do. It drove me crazy when Jesse was there. Maybe the three of you could go another time. Make a weekend out of it.”
“That would be great.”
“Just give me a few minutes to fill out the paperwork and call the bank.”
“Okay, I’ll go grab my mate and we’ll be back in a few,” Crew said and turned to leave. Lexi was standing in the doorway.
“Did I hear something about going into the city?”
“Yeah, Micah needs me to run an errand.”
“I don’t have patrol today and Bailey has the day off. Would it be okay if the two of us grabbed a ride with you? I’ve been dying to take Bailey to the city. He wants to go shopping at the mall there.”
“Sure, that’s not a problem. We can drop you at the mall.”
“Thanks, buddy. I’ll go get my pretty baby,” Lexi said with a smile and left the room.
“They really are perfect for each other,” Crew said as he walked toward the door.
“So are you and your mates, Crew,” Micah added.
“I’m not totally convinced yet, but we’re definitely headed in the right direction,” he said with a smile and left Micah’s office.
* * * *
Crew drove his truck, while Haven sat next to him in the passenger seat. Lexi and Bailey sat in the back, looking out the window as Lexi showed Bailey some of the sights that flew past them.
The closer they drew toward the city limits, the more nervous Crew became. He started to get worrie
d that they would run into Dirk and J.C. It was definitely over between them. He had his two sexy-as-hell mates now and he would never want anyone else, but he still worried about running into them. He didn’t want his mates to have to deal with his past any more than they already had when Crew told them about it.
He hadn’t seen his former lovers since the last time he spent three days with them, the night before he met Haven. He knew he should probably tell them that he wouldn’t be seeing them anymore, but he didn’t want his mates to get stressed in any way thinking about what was going on. Even if he explained to his mates that he was only going to see Dirk and J.C. to tell them they could never be together again, he was sure it would still cause them anxiety, and he didn’t want to put his mates through that.
It wasn’t like he was Dirk and J.C.’s boyfriend and he was just walking away from them with no explanation. They were fuck buddies. Well, really, they weren’t even that. They really didn’t know anything about Crew except some of the things he liked in the bedroom. They were only each other’s once-in-a-while hookup―that was it, so he really didn’t owe them any kind of explanation. There were plenty of times over the past five years that he disappeared from them for months. This time, it would just be forever. It was no big deal. If it’s no big deal, then why is your stomach all tied in knots thinking about running into them?
His brow scrunched up and he began to bite his bottom lip. His grip tightened around the steering wheel as his mind raced with thoughts of running into his ex-lovers. He shook his head to clear the thoughts. It was no big deal. There was no way they were going to run into them anyway. They were going to be clear across the city from where The Cave was. His face relaxed and his grip loosened as he sighed softly.
Crew felt a warm hand on his thigh and he glanced over at his mate. Haven was staring at him with a worried expression on his face. “Are you okay?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing, baby,” Haven answered.
Crew took his eyes from the road again and looked at Haven, giving him a big smile. “Yeah, Heaven, I’m good.”
“I was just wondering. All of a sudden you got all tense and I could feel the worry coming off you in waves.”
Crew looked in the rearview mirror to see if Lexi and Bailey were paying attention to them. When he found that the two were lost in a passionate lip-lock like teenagers, he looked back at Haven. “To be honest, for a moment I got worried that we might run into you-know-who,” Crew whispered. He flicked his eyes to the mirror again, satisfied that their companions hadn’t heard him, then focused his attention on the road again.
“Ah, the exes. Okay, so what if we did?” Haven asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.
“I just didn’t want you to have to deal with them. Actually…I don’t want to deal with them either. I just want us to have a nice day together. I wish Laylen could be here with us, so all three of us could have a nice day together.”
“Yeah, I wish he were here, too. Don’t worry about them though. I doubt we’ll run into them, and even if we do, we’ll just make it perfectly clear that you’re not available anymore. Right?” Haven asked hesitantly.
Crew snapped his head in Haven’s direction. “Of course I’m not available anymore. I belong to you and Laylen now. You two are all that I want.”
Haven smiled and took one of Crew’s hands off the wheel. He brought it to his lips and kissed it tenderly. “Good, because you do belong to us now and we won’t be giving you up. So they can just go find themselves their own hottie,” Haven said with conviction, the possessiveness in Haven’s voice causing shivers up Crew’s spine. Crew blushed and looked back to the road, a shy smile across his lips.
* * * *
Lexi held the door open as they all entered the bank. “We could have dropped you and Bailey off first, Lex, it was no big deal,” Crew said as they all walked across the bank.
“I know. It’s just that the bank was right here and the mall is across town. I just figured this was easier. Go do what you gotta do. Bailey and I will use the little boy’s room and wait over there for you,” Lexi said and pointed at a bench by the front door. Crew nodded, and then he and Haven made their way over to the information desk. Lexi and Bailey took off in the other direction in search of the bathrooms.
The older woman behind the desk looked up at them with a friendly smile as they approached. “May I help you?”
“Yes, ma’am, we’re looking for a Mr. Cartwright. He’s expecting us.”
“Of course. Just have a seat there and I’ll let him know that you’re here,” she said as she pointed to two seats against the wall.
“Thank you,” Crew said with a nod, and he and Haven went to the seats. “So what would you like to see first?” he asked Haven as they sat.
Just then a woman screamed and a loud pop pop pop sounded. Crew’s head snapped in the direction of the noise and he saw two masked men. One was holding a rifle in his hand and yelling at everyone to get on the floor. The other was locking the front doors with the guard’s keys. The guard lay unconscious at the man’s feet. Crew and Haven both slowly lowered themselves to the floor, lying on their stomachs.
“Now, everyone is going to shut up, do as they’re told, and no one will get hurt. Do I make myself clear?” the first man asked.
The hair on the back of Crew’s neck rose at the sound of the man’s order. He knew that voice. Where did he know that voice from?
The second, slightly bigger man, stepped forward and raised his rifle. “I want to see all the employees stand up and raise your hands high above your heads.”
All the bank employees stood up and raised their hands. “Good, the rest of you stay down on the floor, faces down. Cooperate and we’ll be out of here before you know it.”
Shit! He knew that voice, too. This was so not happening, Crew thought to himself. This was not happening.
“Now, I want all the employees over here, front and center, right in front of me,” the second one said.
Dirk, Crew thought.
All the employees moved out into the open space and lined up, stopping a few feet from Dirk. “Good. Now none of you will get the itch to trigger the alarms. I need a volunteer from the audience to get their ass over here,” Dirk ordered to the people lying on the floor. Nobody moved. A few women whimpered and cried, but nobody moved. Haven shifted his position and went to stand up. “No, don’t,” Crew whispered harshly.
Haven relaxed back down. “Why? Better one of us than one of the humans,” Haven whispered back.
“You two over there, get up,” J.C.’s voice ordered.
Shit! They’re talking to me, I just know it.
Crew peeked up at the man and saw that he was indeed looking at him and Haven expectantly. He slowly pushed himself up to a kneeling position and then stood. Keeping his head down, face toward the floor at all times, in hopes they wouldn’t recognize him, as Haven did the same next to him.
J.C. walked closer and stopped in front of him. A hand raised in front of his face and fingers placed under his chin, tilting his face up to meet the masked man. A bright smile spread across the lips in the cutout of the mask. “Son of a bitch,” J.C. said in glee. “Look who we have here.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Dirk hissed. “Get them behind the cages to empty the drawers.”
“Oh I think you want to see this,” J.C. said in amusement. He grabbed a handful of Crew’s hair and moved to stand next to him, showing Dirk who he had.
“Well I’ll be dipped in shit,” Dirk said in astonishment. “Our old friend, Gavin.”
“I’m sorry, but you have the wrong person. My name isn’t Gavin,” Crew said from between clenched teeth. J.C.’s grip on his hair was starting to hurt.
“Well you sure look like our sex slave.” J.C. snickered.
“I don’t have a clue who you are.”
“So who’s this guy, Gav? Another fuck buddy, or a boyfriend?” Dirk asked as he stepped closer and motioned toward Haven.
“I have no idea who he is. Just some guy waiting, like I was,” Crew answered. He needed to get their attention off Haven. He didn’t know how they would react if they did know that Haven was his.
“I don’t know, Gav, the way he’s eyeballing me, like he wants to rip me to shreds, tells me a whole different story,” Dirk said.
“I don’t know who he is and my name isn’t Gavin,” Crew growled out.
Dirk walked right up to him, their chests only inches apart. He felt Dirk’s hot breath against his skin as the man leaned his face toward his. They were a hairsbreadth apart now and both staring into the others eyes intently. “Gavin may not be your real name, but you most definitely are our Gavin.” Dirk leaned in and kissed Crew’s lips. Crew pulled back and a menacing growl came from Haven. Shit, why did Dirk have to kiss him? Not with Haven standing next to him. The panther was getting pissed and he was extremely possessive over his mates. This was not going to end well.
* * * *
“What do we do?” Bailey asked Lexi in a whisper so low that no one but a shifter would be able to hear him, the fear written all over his face.
“I want you to shift, pretty baby.”
“What?” Bailey whispered his shock.
“Your wolf is smaller than mine. They probably won’t even notice you. Strip your clothes here, then shift, and make your way over behind that counter. Do you see the small door there?” Lexi asked and motioned in the direction with his chin. “It’s unlocked. The tellers unlocked it to get out from behind. Get back there, and look under the teller’s windows. There’s probably little red buttons or something that they press to notify the police if there’s a robbery. Push that button and then hightail it back here to me. I promise I’ll have your back the whole way. If it looks like they’re going to get you, I’ll shift and be on their asses faster than they can turn around.”
“But what about the cameras? They’ll see me shift,” Bailey asked nervously.