by Lori King
He almost dropped the handset as the memories of that horrid night came flooding back. “Thomas.”
“So you do remember? And here I had thought you had forgotten,” came the snide reply.
Gripping the phone tighter, Jackson felt himself tremble with the need to shift and destroy. Even an Alpha, with all their control, still struggled on a full moon. “Of course, I remember. Thomas, what have you done?”
Thomas let out a strangled sound. “Nothing you don’t deserve.”
He forced himself to keep his breathing in check even as panic bubbled up inside. Jackson had assumed after the death of his mate that Thomas would have taken his own life, as most shifters do. The insanity that comes from being separated from your other half broke even the strongest wolf. Thomas had been an Alpha, fierce and brave, yet not too prideful to come to Jackson when his mate had needed help. Jackson had respected the hell out of the man, and it had killed a small part of him when they hadn’t been able to rescue Thomas’ mate, Bianca.
“Where is she?” he demanded with no doubt in his mind that Thomas had taken her in some kind of twisted revenge.
“Where do you think?” Thomas taunted him.
A firm hand clamping down on his shoulder brought his attention to Sam. His second Beta was pointing to an area on the map that Jackson instantly recognized. Where they had discovered the hunting party gathered that fateful night, and Bianca’s body.
“I know where you are.” His voice dropped, hardening into a vicious tone. “And I’m coming for you.”
Instead of feeling threatened, Thomas sounded almost gleeful. “Yes. But will you make it in time to save her?”
The dial tone as Thomas hung up echoed in his ears for a moment until he shook himself. He couldn’t let fear seize him. He had to find Eva.
“Jackson?” Cassidy whispered, approaching him slowly. God only knew what he must look like right then. “Where is she?”
“The old cave system just outside of town at the edge of the forest,” Sam answered for him. “It’s where Thomas’ mate was killed by the human hunters.”
“Why is he doing this?” Cassidy asked in bewilderment. “I know he has gone insane, but normally that insanity inflicts pain on the shifter themselves. It doesn’t cause them to lash out like this.”
“He wants me to know what he experienced.”
Cassidy blinked. “What?”
Jackson placed the phone down and headed for the back door of the station. It would be quicker for him to get there if he shifted, and easier for him to track down her exact location. Footsteps followed his and he knew Sam and Cassidy were right on his heels, ready to do the same. “We couldn’t find his mate before the humans reached her in her wolf form, and now he wants me to feel what he felt when we were too late. Either I track her down in time, or the humans kill her while she’s shifted.”
Jackson searched for the best area to shift, making sure no humans would stumble upon them. The last thing he needed was for someone to come along while he was getting naked in front of Sam and Cassidy. Or worse, seeing him shift. “Listen, Cassidy, I want you and the others to do whatever it takes to stop the humans. Don’t let them near the area, got it? I know it’s going to be hard to force off your shift for a bit longer, but I know you can do it. You're my first Beta. I just need you to hold out until you get the humans away from the area, okay? Then head back to my place and take care of the pack. Sam, you’re with me.”
Cassidy pulled him to a stop just before he began to strip in order to shift. “What the hell are you going to do?”
He stared at her with grim determination. “Hunt my mate.”
* * *
Jackson hit the ground running the moment he finished shifting. Nose low to the earth, he focused all his senses on Eva’s scent, trusting Sam to watch his back. Off in the distance, he could hear the violent raging of the townspeople, demanding that Cassidy allow them access to the forest area surrounding the edge of their homes. For her part, Cassidy seemed to be handling them well, if somewhat abruptly. He couldn’t blame her. Even as his first Beta, Cassidy would only be able to hold off her shift for so long before succumbing to the natural pull of the full moon.
Something sweet and sensual filled his senses and Jackson came to a momentary stop. Eva. Tilting his head up in the air, he tried to gain a better idea of direction. He knew he would eventually be able to pick up a trail; still, he hadn’t expected it to be so easy. Thomas wanted Jackson to find Eva, but he doubted the rogue wanted Jackson to find her so soon.
Sam seemed to pick up on his uneasiness at the situation and growled, opening himself to the bond Jackson had with all members of his pack. This has to be a trap, Jack.
I know, he sent back. This seems too easy.
The bastard wants to play with us.
Jackson nodded his agreement. Thomas may be insane, but Jackson knew the man was still cunning. A terrifying combination.
Pushing against the insistence from his wolf that he follow the trail, Jackson headed in the opposite direction, disturbingly close to the area where the humans had gathered. With so many scents assailing him, Jackson found it difficult to pinpoint the one belonging to Eva, if it had been there to begin with.
His head snapped to the left at Sam’s sudden growl, and a snarl tore from Jackson’s throat when he realized why. Thomas stood only ten meters away, grinning manically. Disappearing as quickly as he had appeared, Jackson gave chase, Sam close on his heels as they weaved their way through the forest.
Frustration gnawed at Jackson, who struggled to keep up even on his own lands. Thomas seemed to be playing with them, crisscrossing his path and mixing up the direction of his scent.
A little further ahead, Jackson heard a scream, followed by further shouting. He recognized the area immediately and knew exactly what Thomas had done.
His led us straight to the humans Cassidy is trying to calm, he snarled.
Sam let out a vicious bark. Son of a bitch. Cassidy won’t be able to hold them back for much longer if they have seen him.
We need to find her, now. Jackson spun around when Sam came to an unexpected stop. Sam?
She’s nearby.
Can you smell her? Jackson asked incredulously. How could Sam scent her and he couldn’t? Not only was Eva his mate, but he was Alpha. It should have been impossible. Where?
I can hear her, just over the mountain ledge, leading further into the forest. If I had to guess, I’d say the cave near the old town bridge.
Sam?
Sam refused to look at him. Just go. I’ll lead him away. If he thinks we’re still chasing him, then it will give you time to get to her.
Fine. But this conversation isn’t over, Sam.
Sam snorted. Just go get your mate, Alpha.
Jackson took off to towards the old bridge and the cave entrance he knew was there. The closer he got, the stronger her scent became, filling up his senses. God, she was so close. Pain, fear, and anger consumed the usually subtle and sweet smell as Jackson broke through the tree line, coming to the mouth of the cave.
Forcing his shift back, Jackson knew Eva would be more comforted by his human presence right now. Going through the shift alone and scared, Eva would be disorientated. The last thing she needed was him approaching her in wolf form and speaking to her telepathically.
Gaining his footing, Jackson moved further into the cave, eventually coming to a stop when a soft whimpering reached his ears. Allowing only his eyes to shift, Jackson could finally see in the dark space and sucked in a breath at the sight he found.
Eva lay on her side in her wolf form, gorgeous and golden, panting from obvious exertion. His mate. His Alpha Mate. He had found her in time.
“Eva.”
6
“Eva.”
The tentative yet gruff voice of her mate had Eva blinking her eyes and turning towards the sound. She went to say something, perhaps to tell Jackson that she was fine, that nothing hurt anymore, only to produce some sort of
a bark.
What the hell?
“Eva, it’s okay.”
Peering up, Eva became aware of just how awkward her body felt. She twitched and jumped, a flurry of movements as she freaked out.
“You’ve shifted, sweetheart. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”
Kneeling beside her, Jackson’s large, firm hand soothed down her back. It was only then that she realized how badly she had been trembling. Jackson’s fingers dug in slightly, scratching her in a way she found calming.
A chuckle had Jackson’s lips tilting up in amusement when Eva couldn’t stop her tail from thumping against the dirt floor beneath her. “Like that, huh? How about we focus on changing you back?”
Eva’s serenity cracked as reality flooded in. She had shifted, and had no clue how to turn back. Oh, god, what if she were stuck like this?
Obviously having sensed her growing tension, Jackson brought his spare hand up to tilt her head much like he had many times before. A disconcerting feeling given she was now a freaking wolf. “You can do it, love. I just need you to relax. We just need to work on you shifting back. Cassidy is taking care of the hunters, but we need to get you back to human in case she can’t hold them off. It’s going to be okay. You’re safe. I promise.”
But she wasn’t safe. The humans weren’t the only threat.
As if summoned by her words, Thomas chuckled from the edge of the cave.
Jackson spun around, growling low and threatening. “You son of a bitch.”
“Quiet now, Jackson. You don’t want to draw the attention of the humans, do you?” Thomas mocked him.
She tensed when Jackson subtly moved himself between them, trying to give her as much cover as possible. “Where’s Sam?”
Eyebrows raised, Thomas shrugged. “Oh, you mean that furball you had trying to trick me? He’s taking a nap.”
Her mate stiffened. “What did you do to him?”
“Oh, relax.” Thomas snorted. “I wouldn’t kill him. After all, he might actually make a decent Alpha for your pack. Once your mate is gone, you’ll slowly go insane like me and then...well, they’ll probably put you down and your pack will need...Sam, was it?
Eva struggled to lift up onto her paws at the same time as Jackson launched himself forward, shifting mid-leap. Her Alpha snarled, blind with obvious fury as he attacked Thomas. For his part, Thomas had clearly expected the move, and swiftly lunged sideways, shifting himself.
She could barely keep up with them as they moved back and forth in a flurry of vicious movements. Each designed to strike hard and fast, causing the most amount of damage possible. Eva didn’t think it was something that could be taught, but rather something that was inbred within Alphas. This primal savagery marked them as leaders.
Emotions warred within her. Fear, concern, anger. The two most prominent, though, were awe and horror.
When Thomas struck a particularly deadly-looking blow with a sharp claw, Eva couldn’t hold back any longer. Running on instinct, she leaped forward, into the fray. With neither Alpha having expected her interference, Eva managed to get the upper hand, slipping between the two battling figures. Underneath paws, through lean legs, all the way to clamp her lethal canines around the base of Thomas’ neck.
Eva! Watch his back legs!
Jackson’s shout through the bond came too late when the jarring of the impact forced Eva to let go of her grip. She didn’t even have a moment to gather herself before sharp claws sliced their way through her flank and sent her careening into the cave wall.
She blinked, dazed, and confused. Pain encompassed her entire being more thoroughly than it had when she had shifted. Eva felt cold and when dampness spread itself across her, she realized she was bleeding, badly.
“Eva. Oh, god, Eva.”
Hearing Jackson outside of their bond shocked her enough that she turned her head towards him. Her mate stood there, covered in blood, both his own and Thomas’, and completely human.
“Oh, god. Sweetheart.” His voice trembled with the severity of the situation. Large, firm hands were placed at her side, trying to stanch the flow of blood. “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”
Eva wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more. Her or himself.
“I’m sorry, so sorry.” Thomas came into her view and she flinched, only causing herself more pain. “I’m so sorry.”
Jackson growled when the rogue came closer. “Stay away. I will kill you.”
“I wish you would,” the man replied brokenly. “God, what have I done?”
Cocking his head to the side, Jackson narrowed his gaze. “You seem more...lucid, all of a sudden.”
Eva tried to keep up with their words even as her lacerations continued to ache. She could barely keep up. Thomas had gone from a deranged psychopath to a tortured and shattered man within seconds. What had caused such a change?
As if sensing her question, Thomas collapsed beside them, keeping a respectful distance. “You look so much like her.”
She shuddered. Her. His mate.
“Bianca,” Jackson whispered. Eva could see Jackson piecing everything together quicker than she could. “Seeing Eva like this was enough to pull you out of your feral state. Bianca was a golden wolf, like Eva.”
“And the last time I saw her she was covered in so much blood, too,” A look of utter desolation marred Thomas’ features. He suddenly looked so much older and worn.
“Thom-”
Whatever Jackson had been about to say was cut off by the sounds of shouting. The humans.
Eyes wide and fearful, Thomas turned towards the mouth of the cave. “What have I done?”
Eva whimpered as the sounds of the humans grew closer. She couldn’t shift and her body had suffered too much trauma to move.
“Shit,” Jackson snapped. “They’re nearly here. We have to stop them. If they find her…”
He fell silent, not needing to finish that sentence. They all knew what he meant.
Thomas was the one to eventually speak, and when he did it was with an air of finality. “They won’t find her.”
“What?”
Thomas stared at her, eyes dull and almost lifeless. “They won’t find her, because they won’t be looking for her.”
“Thomas, what are you going to do?”
With a sad yet determined smile, Thomas shrugged. “What I should have done the moment I lost her.”
Neither she, nor Jackson, had even a second to react before Thomas shifted into his wolf form and bolted for the opening of the cave. For long seconds they heard nothing, and then it was like all hell broke loose.
“I saw it.”
“There.”
“No, it’s over there.”
“Someone get that thing.”
Gunshots rang out through the forest and Eva whined when just as quickly everything went quiet again, knowing what the silence signalled. She could hear the cruel cheering of the humans who thought they had just saved the day, not knowing the true nature of their destruction.
Jackson held her for a long while, and it was only the sound of someone approaching their position that had him drawing away in a defensive stance.
“Easy,” Sam said quickly, raising his hands. “It’s just me.”
“Thomas?” Jackson asked softly, his words no more than a quiet murmur.
Sam’s gaze hardened and he shook his head. “I heard Ramirez ordering the hunting party away from the area.”
“Good.” Jackson stared at his friend for a moment longer, and Eva couldn’t understand what had him so focused until Jackson spoke again. “You’re back in your human form.”
Sam remained quiet but nodded.
Eva let that sink in. Even in her current state of mind, she realized what that meant. Somehow Jackson’s second Beta...was an Alpha.
“After all this is over, you and I are going to have that chat. We clear?”
She saw Sam bristle slightly at the tone, but otherwise, he showed no other signs of emotion. “Clear,
Alpha.”
When Jackson turned his attention back to her, Eva huffed in frustration. Jackson. I can’t change back.
Her mate checked her over, and whatever he saw of her wounds, he seemed pleased by. “Yes, you can, sweetheart. You just need to focus. I’m going to walk you through it, okay?”
Eva focused on the soothing tenor of Jackson’s voice, the calming effect her mate’s tone had on her was complete and overwhelming, much like everything else had been lately. Still, it allowed her to control what was happening to her.
“That’s it. Now, I need you to concentrate and think of your human form. Your legs, arms, head. Right down to your fingers and toes, the moles that decorate the side of your pale, smooth neck-”
“Are you trying to help her shift, or wax poetic about her?” Sam muttered from somewhere behind him.
Jackson glared. “Shut up, Sam. Eva, I need you to focus. You know how to do this, even if you don’t think you do. It’s as natural as breathing to a shifter. To you. Don’t fight it. Let it happen.”
The now familiar shudder and quake washed over her, her temperature rising and cooling like a wave over her body. There was no pain this time, as she allowed the sensation to roll over her without fighting it. When she blinked open her eyes, not having noticed she’d closed them, the first thing she saw was Jackson’s beatific smile, his expression proud and more open than she had seen it before.
“Jack.”
“Welcome back, sweetheart.”
* * *
“You know I can walk.” Eva objected once again, earning herself nothing more than a grunt in return. Jackson had insisted on carrying her from the woods, which she had been grateful for as her body had still been protesting all forms of movement from the shift and her still-healing wounds. The problem had come when they had reached the station. Jackson had refused to put her down even to dress himself.
Yes, the Sheriff had driven them home buck naked.
Thankfully, the vehicle had tinted windows. Eva didn’t know how the townspeople would react to seeing their Sheriff letting it all hang out after everything else they had been through that night. The streets were still surprisingly filled with families and youth all celebrating Halloween.