by Noah Harris
As if in answer to his thoughts, a large wolf trotted up beside him, fangs bared. For a moment, Adrian didn’t recognize the pitch-black wolf. When the scent of fertile earth and fresh rain filled his nostrils, Adrian realized it was Michael. As if to confirm it, the wolf looked up, his dark blue eyes catching in the spotlight as they surveyed Adrian.
Adrian followed Michael’s eyes to his side and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, it’s only a scratch. I can’t say the same for his balls though.”
“I’ll get you for that and everything else you’ve done today, Alexander, but you’ll have to wait,” Stephan snarled.
Before Adrian could say anything, the muscles in Stephan’s arms bulged. The shelf he had been holding creaked alarmingly before pitching forward. The shelf supported other pieces of metal and shelving, which all came crashing down in a cacophonous domino effect..
Adrian and Michael leaped away from the mess, sprawling on the dirt as the shelves collapsed around them. Adrian caught sight of a piece of shelving coming toward him and shoved himself back with a sharp kick, narrowly missing having his legs pinned. Other debris fell around them, sparks of pain igniting along his body as they were partially buried.
When the noise dimmed, Adrian pushed up, happy to find that whatever was leaning against him gave way with ease. With a groan, he pushed himself out of the pile of metal, moving carefully so he wouldn’t slice himself on sharp edges. As he glanced around, he spotted Michael trotting forward with a worried whine.
Adrian grunted, pushing a piece of shelf away from him carefully. “I’m okay. Fucker almost crushed me with shelves, what kind of bullshit is that?”
Michael whined again, nosing against Adrian and earning a sigh. “I’m fine, but that asshole took off.”
After freeing himself from the pile, Adrian looked around and found he and Michael were alone on the ground floor. They might have won the battle, but Stephan had gotten away.
Chapter 17
By the time he had pulled himself free from the debris and stepped carefully away from the mess, the noises overhead had ceased. Adrian checked over Michael one last time before he led the way back to the stairs that would bring them to the catwalks above. At the top of the stairs, he realized walkways weren’t alone on the upper story. Between the crisscrossing paths, there were also enclosed rooms. A couple appeared to have been control rooms for some of the larger warehouse equipment, but the rest looked like storerooms or breakrooms.
Adrian found his pack waiting in one of these enclosed rooms. The four werewolves were standing in a loose circle around three tied up, very naked people. Adrian smirked as he watched Max try to hide his shiver against the cool air.
“Bet you were a lot warmer with a fur coat,” Adrian said with a laugh.
Max crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look like he wasn’t fighting another shiver. “I’m fine.”
Adrian looked at Eli. “Couldn’t pack some long sleeve shirts while you were heading out or something?”
Eli rolled his eyes. “It was a small bag, and I packed enough shorts so that we didn’t have our dicks flopping in everyone’s face.”
Adrian smirked but motioned down toward the restrained people sitting near his pack. “This all that’s left?
Eli nodded. “The rest didn’t survive the fight. I’ll give them this much, they were willing to stand their ground.”
Marcus snorted. “Stupid choice if you ask me. They were outnumbered and caught with their pants down. They should have just showed their bellies and given up.”
Adrian peered at the three huddled on the ground. “Don’t think I recognize any of these.”
Liam frowned. “We were hoping you of all people would.”
Adrian shrugged. “You can’t expect me to know every face and name in the city. Out of towners looking for an opportunity?”
“Lone wolves?” Max added.
Adrian shook his head. “No, there aren’t any lone wolves in the city at the moment.”
“Can you be sure of that?” Marcus asked doubtfully.
“I can’t stand here and promise you that there aren’t any loners in the city right now. That’s kind of the thing about loners, they wander in where they want and do what they want, then go whenever they feel like it. But the werewolves of the city are pretty good about keeping track of any loners that wander in, letting them do their business without much hassle, but always keeping an eye on them. As far as I know, there aren’t any loners in the city,” Adrian replied.
Eli patted one of the naked men’s shoulders roughly. “Then I guess we’re just going to have to ask them a few questions to clear some things up, now won’t we?”
One of the men glared up at Eli. “We’ve got nothing to say to you.”
Adrian snorted. “Isn’t that what they always say?”
Eli eyed the man who had spoken. “My friend, you came into our city and decided you wanted to cause trouble. If you want any chance of getting back out of the city you chose to invade, you might want to consider talking.”
The man continued to glare. Adrian eyed the man’s companions. One was looking up at Eli with wide eyes, so afraid you could practically smell it. The other was refusing to look at anyone, apparently finding his feet fascinating. If Adrian had to guess, the stubborn man would hold out the longest, but the moment his friends caved, he would talk, too, if only to save his own skin.
Adrian looked around again, frowning. “How many were there?”
Liam nodded down. “These three and four others.”
Adrian did the math, nodding slowly. “A few more than I expected, but I suppose that’s a good thing. A pity that the woman was one of the ones to die, she sounded like she would have been a thrill to talk to.”
Eli looked up sharply. “Woman? There were no women.”
Adrian looked around, seeing Eli’s words confirmed on his pack’s face. “There was a woman.”
“There was no woman when we dove in, Adrian. Are you sure she was here?” Max asked carefully.
Adrian frowned in thought “Okay, I didn’t actually see her here this time, but when I discovered their meeting place the first time, there was a woman. She sounded like a real piece of work.”
“Did you happen to catch her name?” Eli asked.
Adrian shook his head. “The only name I got was Stephan’s. After that, I was a little distracted by them hunting me down, then by the fact that a long-lost relative decided to show up and try to fuck everything up.”
“Speaking of…” Eli said, looking over Adrian’s shoulder with a question on his face.
Adrian sighed. “I might have underestimated his willingness to throw a shelf on top of me to get away when he realized his battle was lost. Michael and I had him cornered but he, well, threw some shit on us and got away in the chaos.”
“You let him get away?” Marcus asked incredulously.
Adrian rolled his eyes. “Yes, Marcus, I politely asked if he would like to throw a couple hundred pounds of steel on us so he could make his great escape. I figured after all of this time, I owed him that much, being family and all.”
There was a deep chuckle from behind him. “If you were anymore sarcastic, we would be swimming in it.”
Adrian turned at Michael’s voice, smiling a little. “What can I say? I have a talent.”
Michael looked to Eli, nodding his head slowly in an unspoken gesture of respect. “He speaks the truth. We had him, but it seems that he was a little wilier than we gave him credit for.”
Adrian winced. “Which was my own fault. I was trying to take him alive.”
Eli nodded at Adrian’s side. “Is that how you got that?”
Adrian winced. “No, that was a gift during the tussle. He apparently wanted to leave me something to remember him by.”
Max looked concerned as he stepped closer. “Let me take a look at it.”
Adrian waved him off. “It’s only a scratch, Max. Don’t get all freaked out.”
“Your shirt is soaked with blood,” Michael said from behind him.
Adrian rolled his eyes. “Okay, a deep scratch. I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t be stubborn, let me take a look at it,” Max said as he pushed forward, ignoring Adrian’s protests.
“Max, quit fussing,” Adrian growled at him.
Max lay a gentle hand on Adrian’s side, pulling the fabric away. “This is going to need stitches. I guess it’s a good thing I insisted on packing the kit before we left.”
“Aw, c’mon, you don’t need to give me stitches,” Adrian said.
Max looked up, his normally soft and boyish expression now stubborn. “Look, either I give you stitches, or you have someone else give you stitches.”
“I can do them myself,” Adrian complained.
Liam snorted. “The last time you did it, it looked like you visited a butcher. Just let him stitch you up or he’s going to tell Hunter on you.”
Eli chuckled. “And we all know how that will go.”
Adrian thought about the lecture he would get from the Hunter, wincing at Eli. “You know, we really have to talk about how much free rein you give your mate, because honestly? For a human, he bulldozes over all of us, and you just let him.”
Marcus snorted derisively. “This coming from the guy who runs all over the city without a word of what he’s doing for weeks at a time.”
“And backtalks his alpha constantly,” Liam added.
Michael chuckled. “And gives anyone and everyone hell if they’re within a ten-foot radius.”
Adrian turned to Michael with a frown. “Don’t you start.”
Michael smiled at him innocently. “Are you trying to say we’re wrong?”
Adrian pointed at him. “Irrelevant, you’re supposed to take my side.”
Max sighed, pushing himself to his feet. “I’m going to go get the kit. Try not to make the wound worse while you’re arguing with everyone about whether or not you’re a pain.”
Adrian frowned at Max’s retreating back. “You know, he used to be such a sweet kid. Wouldn’t dare say a thing against someone else without feeling like utter crap. Now he has zero problem giving me hell and is willing to tattle to Hunter.”
“You’re all absolutely insane,” the stubborn captive said with an annoyed huff.
“Yeah, but at least we’re not tied up and naked on the floor, so I count that as winning,” Adrian told him with a grin.
Michael’s hand fell on his shoulder. “Do you mind coming out into the hallway for a moment?”
“They’re catwalks, not hallways,” Adrian retorted..
Michael gave him an unamused expression. “Adrian.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Adrian sighed as he followed Michael.
Michael closed the door behind them, eyeing Adrian carefully. “You okay?”
Adrian looked up at him, frowning. “Should I not be?”
Michael chuckled. “I can’t imagine you’re pleased with how this turned out.”
Adrian shrugged, trying to not wince when the movement pulled the muscles in his side. “It’s not the ending I would have preferred, but it’s better than one of ours dying or everyone in this little plot getting away.”
Michael nodded. “We didn’t get the ringleader.”
Adrian bit his lower lip. “And it looks like the mole in your inner circle got away too. Unless, did you know one of the dead?”
Michael shook his head. “No, there was no one there I knew. I heard you mention a woman?”
Adrian grunted. “She was the one I heard talking the most at the meeting they chased me out of. If she wasn’t here, that’s probably where Stephan ran off to.”
“And you think she would be my traitor?” Michael asked in a neutral tone that sounded forced.
“If she’s not, then she would be the one who could lead us to whoever has been feeding them information. She didn’t really say anything that gave her away at the meeting, but she definitely seemed to have a good understanding of who you were as a person.”
Michael looked away, frowning. “And it doesn’t help that this group has been rather adept at finding the best moments to strike. It’s time I admit that there is a leak.”
Adrian reached out, but stopped, his hand falling to his side when he realized that his pack was on the other side of the door. Michael sensed his hesitation and gave him a sad smile. An ache blossomed in Adrian’s chest when he caught sight of the expression.
“Sorry,” Adrian murmured, a wave of guilt following.
Michael shook his head. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
Adrian could tell from Michael’s face that there was plenty to be sorry about. Adrian wasn’t quite ready to let his pack know that there was more between him and Michael than just a work relationship with friendship added in. Admitting that was more of a commitment than Adrian was prepared to make.
Adrian winced. “No, I just—”
“I understand,” Michael said softly.
Adrian felt like this was a conversation that they were having far too often. “Yeah, but you shouldn’t have to understand.”
Michael shook his head. “We can talk about this later. I can wait.”
Adrian let out a frustrated sigh but nodded. He supposed he should have felt relieved that Michael was willing to work with him, understanding that Adrian wasn’t trying to play games. Adrian had never been one to deal with fear very well. If he could turn fight it, then he would push it aside, avoid it, whatever it took to not have to deal with whatever was anxiously clawing at the back of his mind. It had worked with just about everything before, but to treat his feelings concerning Michael that way wouldn’t make him happy. It would just make them both miserable.
“I guess I still need to get my shit together,” Adrian said with a rueful chuckle.
Michael smiled. “Fear isn’t a failing, Adrian.”
Adrian opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a soft clearing of a throat behind him. He turned to find Max standing with the small first aid kit in hand, watching the two of them with a polite expression. Adrian had no doubt that Max had heard enough to guess at what Adrian and Michael were discussing. The quick but reassuring smile on Michael’s face told him that his suspicion was right.
“Ready to sew me up, doctor?” Adrian asked with forced lightness.
Max smirked at him. “If you’re willing to sit still long enough to let me, sure.”
Adrian watched Max unpack the supplies. “So, how did you find the fight, Max?”
Max looked up, hesitating. “It’s not the first fight I’ve been in, Adrian.”
Adrian almost shrugged, remembering his wound and thinking better of the gesture. “Okay, but you haven’t been in many.”
Michael chuckled lightly when Max looked away. “I’ve never been one to enjoy a battle.”
Max looked up in surprise. “Really?”
“Don’t look so surprised,” Michael said in amusement.
Max flushed. “I’m sorry, it’s just— Even though Eli and Marcus don’t act like it, they enjoy fighting as much as the other alphas I’ve met. Actually, a lot of werewolves seem to like fighting. I’ve just never really been able to get the hang of it.”
Adrian smiled. “Max here is the closest to a pacifist we get.”
“I just don’t like the feel of it when the wolf—the wolf likes it a lot more than I do,” Max mumbled.
Adrian pulled his shirt off to allow Max access to the wound. “I’ve tried telling him that it’s not uncommon for lost pups to feel uncomfortable with the inner wolf.”
Michael nodded beside him, watching Max work intently. “It’s not just lost pups. Even though I was surrounded by my pack growing up and given the best instruction my mother could, I was never completely comfortable with the more primal aspects of being a werewolf. Something about it has always been a little unsettling for me. There are other ways to relieve the urge to fight and compete.”
Adrian smirk
ed at him. “Like competing in the business world?”
“That is one way, certainly,” Michael said calmly.
“I don’t think getting into business is for me,” Max said.
Adrian winced as he felt the sting of the antiseptic turn into a painful burn. “Maybe you should try getting laid. I hear that helps.”
“You’ve heard, huh?” Max asked with a light laugh.
The door behind them opened, Eli standing at the threshold, watching the trio. “Michael, what do you want to do with these three?”
“Ah, I suppose we should probably figure out a way to move them without having someone crying kidnap,” Michael said.
Adrian chuckled as Michael nodded to him and Max before returning to the office to discuss it with Eli. They hadn’t known if anyone from Stephan’s side would end up coming out alive and hadn’t planned transport. Adrian had expected more to die and imagined that, now, someone was going to have to call a cab to make room for their captives.
“Are they going to kill them?” Max asked quietly.
Adrian smiled at Max’s soft heart, appreciating its contrast to his normally harsh world. “I’m not completely sure what they’ll do with them. On the off chance that they are lost pups who managed to slip the net, they might just let them go after grilling them for information.”
“And if they’re not?”
“I guess that depends on Michael. If they’re from another pack in the city, or from outside, someone’s going to have to do a lot of explaining if they don’t want to have to deal with Michael’s pack coming down on them.”
“And ours. I think it’s safe to say that his pack and ours are officially more than allies. We’re friends as well,” Max said with an undertone of happiness.
Adrian grinned. “Yeah, I think we can add them to our list of friends. Not bad friends to have, all things considered.”