“No. I don’t want him to worry.”
“Alright. After you get Cary settled inside, I’d like to talk to you.”
“Sure thing.”
Cary hated being treated like he was helpless but if it hadn’t been for Aaron’s intervention earlier he might be dead by now. The thought was sobering and he let Aaron help him the rest of the way without complaint.
When they got inside, Cary limped down the hall to his bedroom with Aaron attached firmly to his side. One of the men had got in a good kick to his groin and, now that the adrenaline had worn off, it was starting to hurt like hell.
Bastards.
As Cary crossed to his bathroom, Aaron finally removed the arm from around his waist.
“Are you going to be okay from here?”
“I’m good. Go on out and talk to Kelan.”
Aaron hesitated for a moment then nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
Aaron turned to leave then stopped.
He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Cary’s head just above his swollen eye.
“Try not to get into any more trouble.”
Aaron’s mouth curved into a smile. It was the first genuine smile Cary had seen on the wolf’s face since he’d found him in the cornfield.
“Yes, Sir.” Cary saluted in jest. “I’m going to take a shower then I’m going straight to bed to try to get some rest.”
“See that you do,” Aaron teased.
Chapter Seventeen
“I spoke to my friend at the council about your mating.”
Kelan threaded his thumbs through his belt loop and leaned back against the post on the ranch house porch.
The look on his face told Aaron the news wasn’t good.
“What did he say?”
“My friend agrees that the law is outdated and needs to be changed. He’s going to have a chat with some of his colleagues, see what they can come up with.
“He hasn’t promised anything but Dean is a good guy. If anything can be done, he’s the man to do it.”
“Thanks for all your help on this, Kelan. I appreciate it.”
Kelan shrugged. “It’s nothing. Besides, you and Cary are family. So, tell me about the men tonight. Did you get any of their names?”
“The wolf was called Lyle. But I didn’t catch any of the others’ names.”
Kelan removed his hands from his jeans and stood up straight. His eyes flashed and the expression on his face turned stone cold.
“Lyle? Are you sure?”
“Yeah, you know him?”
“There’s only one Lyle around here that I know of. He’s one of Joe Walker’s hands. Nasty piece of work. I’ve had words with him before.”
“Cary seems to think the men that beat him up tonight could be the same men the council are looking for.”
Kelan frowned. “Lyle is not the sharpest tool in the box. He’s a bigot and homophobe of the highest order, but I didn’t figure him for a killer. Is Cary sure?”
“I think it was just a feeling he got about them. I gotta say, I agree with him. There was this one guy—he was just standing around in the background watching but there was something in his eyes…
“I don’t know… It’s hard to explain, but he was scary. Guy gave me the creeps.”
“I’m sure the council will catch them. Talk of the devils.”
Aaron turned and watched a black sedan speed towards the ranch, kicking up dust in its wake. Aaron straightened his shoulders and prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation with Gregory.
Kelan walked down the steps of the porch and greeted the two men as they got out of the car. Gregory looked over the alpha before offering his hand.
“Are you Kelan?”
Kelan shook the man’s hand. “I am. And you are?”
“I’m Gregory Hale and this is my partner, Ashton Monroe.”
A smaller man stepped forwards and shook Kelan’s hand.
He was bulky with a wide forehead and a beak-like nose. Aaron scented the air but the men were downwind and he couldn’t tell what type of shifter the man was, or if he was even one at all.
Gregory’s eyes lifted and fixed on Aaron.
He frowned.
“What is he doing here?”
Aaron bit his tongue and made his way down the steps. He had to try to avoid getting into an argument with Gregory. He and Cary were in enough trouble already. Oh well, he could no longer hide it. He crossed to the men and stopped in front of Gregory.
“I’m here because my mate nearly got killed tonight.”
Gregory went stock-still.
He sniffed the air between them and his jaw tensed, his eyebrows pulling together.
“What the fuck have you done?” Gregory shouted. “Are you completely stupid?”
Aaron’s temperature rose and his gums itched as his canines threatened to elongate, but he tried not to react to the insult, although it took everything he had not to lunge for the man.
Kelan must have noticed how tightly wound Aaron was because he stepped in between the two men and tried to defuse the situation.
“This wasn’t Aaron’s fault,” Kelan informed him sternly.
Gregory snorted. “Please don’t tell me you’re trying to blame Cary for this.”
Gregory’s voice grew louder with every word.
“I’m not blaming anyone. But you’ve got to be reasonable. Aaron and Cary are both very young. It is not their fault they are mated. I’m sure you know how hard it is to resist your mate once you’ve found them.”
Gregory’s mouth curved down and his eyelids drooped.
He sighed. “I don’t have a mate, but that is beside the point. What they have done is against the law. I cannot let this pass. It would cost me my job.”
Gregory’s partner had remained so quiet up until that point that Aaron had almost forgotten he was standing there. Aaron scented the air between them then scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion. His nose wrinkled at the scent.
Was that a bird he could smell?
The man stepped forward and looked at Aaron with something bordering on pity.
“I have been mated, and believe me I appreciate how difficult it is to resist one’s mate, but I agree with Gregory. This is out of our hands, son.
“We have to take you back to headquarters where you will be dealt with by our superiors.”
“Now wait just a minute…” Kelan began.
“It’s all right,” Aaron interrupted, placing a hand on Kelan’s shoulder. “I’ll go with them if I have to.”
Gregory nodded, seemingly satisfied with the turn of events.
Aaron’s mind drifted back to Cary and the injuries he had sustained tonight. He had to try to save his mate from any further stress and worry if he could but he was almost too afraid to ask.
“Is there… Damn. Is there any chance you can keep Cary out of this? He’s been through a lot already and I don’t want him to suffer any further. I’ll take full responsibility for claiming him.”
Gregory pursed his lips.
It was obvious that he liked Cary and hopefully, he wouldn’t want to see him get into any trouble. He opened his mouth to respond but Ashton spoke first.
“I’m afraid that is out of the question. You are equally as responsible. You will both be coming to headquarters with us. But first, we have to deal with the matter at hand.
“Tell us everything you know about the men that attacked Cary tonight.”
“Come with me,” Kelan said, gesturing to the ranch house. “I can tell you everything you need to know. I even know where one of the men lives.”
The beak-nosed man smiled then followed Kelan into the house.
“I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.” Gregory scrubbed a hand over his face then let it fall to his side. “I warned you both earlier about continuing a relationship. You should have listened to me.”
“It’s not as easy as that.” Aaron frowned. “You’ll understand one day when you find your own mate. The compulsion
to be with them is too hard to fight. What’s going to happen to us?”
“Honestly? It’s been a while since cross-species mating has been brought before the council so it’s hard to tell. But in the past?” Gregory sighed and averted his gaze from Aaron’s.
“In the past, the council has not been lenient. I know of one case in which both parties were sent to prison. On other occasions, the pair were simply separated.”
“What?” Aaron’s stomach clenched and his mouth became suddenly as dry as the Sahara. “What do you mean separated?”
Gregory stared at Aaron as if he was crazy. “You don’t honestly expect the council to allow you to stay with Cary, do you?”
Chapter Eighteen
Cary groaned as the hot spray of the shower worked its magic on his neck and shoulders. He only wished it would help the other parts of his body, too.
He ached—everywhere.
His eye throbbed, his ribs felt as if they were caught in a vice and he was sure his head was about to explode. That was the only conceivable explanation for the constant, somewhat debilitating pounding.
Still, he’d been through this before—worse, actually—and he knew he’d heal eventually. Aaron had been right. What he needed to do was shift. But he didn’t have time for that with the council members arriving. He’d be lucky to grab five minutes’ rest on the bed after he’d toweled off.
He groaned.
Bed, that was exactly what he needed.
Bed and Aaron, in any order.
He turned off the water then climbed stiffly out of the tub. A sharp pain shot through his groin with the movement. Cary cursed and looked down at the offending area.
He wished he hadn’t.
His groin was swollen and completely covered by an angry-looking purple and black bruise.
He grabbed a towel and delicately patted the area dry.
It was tender.
Scratch that…it hurt like freaking hell.
Why did they always go for the balls?
Cary finished drying off then wrapped the towel around his waist. He was just about to brush his teeth when a noise sounded outside the bathroom door.
“Aaron? You back already?” When he didn’t receive a reply, Cary flung open the door then stepped into his bedroom. “Aaron?”
Cary stopped short just inside the door.
The face grinning at him from beside the bed was not Aaron’s.
It didn’t belong to anyone on the ranch.
It was the tall, insipid man from the bar.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Cary demanded, his eyes wide from both fear and rage. “What do you wa—”
Cary didn’t get to finish his sentence.
He felt a sharp pain in his stomach and when he looked down, he saw a small dart sticking out of him. He clutched at it to pull it out, but he started to get dizzy, his eyes growing heavy.
The last thing he saw before the darkness consumed him was the sinister grin on the man’s face and an evil glint in his black soulless eyes.
Chapter Nineteen
“We all set?” Gregory asked when his partner followed Kelan out of the large ranch house and down the steps of the porch.
Ashton nodded. “The wolf lives and works on a ranch near here. No information on any of the humans, but I’m sure it won’t be too difficult to locate them when we’ve found the wolf.”
Ashton’s eyes flashed with menace.
Aaron had no doubt they’d be able to make the wolf talk.
Together they made a formidable pair of opponents.
“Thank you for all your help, Kelan,” Ashton reached out and shook the alpha’s hand.
“You’re welcome. If you need anything else…”
Ashton nodded. “We’ll call you. And I’ll see what I can do about that other matter we discussed.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Kelan’s gaze fell upon Aaron and he wondered if they’d been talking about him.
“Aaron, we’ll come back to collect you and Cary later. I really am sorry we have to do this.”
Aaron nodded. “I guess you’re only doing your jobs.”
Ashton walked around the car and climbed in the passenger seat. Gregory was halfway into the driver’s side when the door to the bunkhouse flew open and Nate came charging out.
“Get your asses in here now!” he yelled. “It’s Cary, he’s gone. Someone took him.”
For the briefest of moments, Aaron was unable to move.
When Nate’s words began to sink in, he let out an almighty roar and started to run at breakneck speed towards the house. He was dimly aware of three sets of footsteps following in his wake.
He tore past Nate and into the bunkhouse.
“Cary!”
“I was asleep,” Nate said. “Cary called out, it woke me up. But I didn’t get there in time.”
All Aaron could hear from the wolf was noise.
His mind was solely on his mate as he ran through the bunkhouse to get to Cary’s bedroom.
“Oh God, if something happens to him I’ll never forgive myself.”
Aaron blocked out Nate’s voice completely as he sprinted through the open door and surveyed the room. Nothing looked out of place but the bathroom door was open and a damp, white towel lay discarded on the floor in a pile.
The large bedroom window was hanging open.
The slight breeze ruffled the cobalt curtains, and the moon cast an eerie shadow in the room. Aaron could feel its pull. In a day or two, it would be full and he would have no choice but to shift. Even now, his wolf grew anxious. It wanted to be set free.
It wanted to find its mate.
Aaron ran to the window and looked out into the night. The back of the property looked out into part of the yard and the woods that lay beyond.
The night was still and lifeless.
Dead.
Aaron screamed out his frustration through the open window. He lifted himself onto the sill and climbed out. He inhaled deeply, trying to find some trace of his mate on the wind. Cary’s scent was strong, but Aaron could also smell one of the humans from the cornfield earlier…and the wolf.
“Aaron, wait.”
Gregory grabbed hold of his arm as he was about to run towards the wood.
He shrugged him off.
“Don’t tell me to wait,” he spat. “My mate is out there. I have to find him. They’ve been here. They came here for him and they took him. I can smell them.”
“Who can you smell?” Gregory asked.
“The wolf and one of the humans from earlier.”
Aaron started to make for the trees but Gregory pulled him back again.
“I said wait. We’ll all look for him.”
Aaron growled at Gregory and tried to shove him away but Gregory was stronger than he looked.
“I have to find my mate!”
Gregory kept a firm hold of Aaron and turned to the window. “Ashton?”
Gregory’s partner climbed out and stood at his side. “Yeah?”
“Go around to the front of the bunkhouse. See if you pick up any scents. You know what to do if you find anything.”
Ashton nodded and immediately set off in the direction Gregory had indicated.
Kelan climbed out next, followed closely by Nate.
“We’re wasting time here!” Aaron barked. “They could have… What if they…”
Gregory placed his other hand on Aaron’s shoulder and for the first time, Aaron saw sympathy and compassion in the cat’s eyes.
“We’ll find him, Aaron, but we have to do this properly. Kelan? You go around front, check the barn and the corral. If you don’t find anything, meet up with Ashton then join me and Aaron in the woods.”
Kelan nodded. “Do you want me to stop by the house? Get the rest of the family to join in the search?”
“No. Right now we don’t know what we’re facing. We don’t know if they are armed. I can’t risk anyone else getting hurt, or worse.”
Kelan frowned but he nodded his agreement.
His gaze fell upon Aaron. “We’ll get him back.”
Aaron swallowed hard and nodded.
“Who are you?” Gregory asked.
“Nate. I live in the bunkhouse with Cary. I work with him. I’m gonna help find him.”
Nate’s tone brooked no argument.
Gregory gave him a once-over then nodded. “Okay, fine, you can check the woods with us. Go fifty yards to the right and keep moving straight ahead. Call out to us if you find anything. But be careful.”
Nate nodded then hurried off.
“Aaron, I need you to stay calm, okay? I know how difficult this must be for you, but you must keep a clear head. If you go charging in without knowing what you’re facing, you could do Cary more harm than good.”
“I have to find him,” Aaron whispered.
He could hear the desperation in his voice but it was unavoidable.
Gregory led him towards the trees. “We will.”
Aaron nodded and swallowed down the lump in his throat.
Gregory let go of his arm and started moving off to the left.
“Keep going in a straight line. If you hear or smell anything, call me. I’ll be no more than fifty feet from you. I’ll hear.”
Aaron gave a sharp nod but didn’t speak.
He didn’t trust his voice.
He stopped briefly at the tree line then scented the air. Cary’s scent was faint but he’d definitely come this way. When Aaron turned to tell Gregory, the cat had already disappeared into the trees. Aaron took a deep breath and started walking. How the hell could this happen twice in one night?
Aaron swore to himself that when he found Cary, the cat was never leaving his side again.
There was no denying now that these were the men that had killed the other shifters. They had already beaten Cary once. If they were just some local thugs who got their jollies picking on people weaker than them, they would have been satisfied with that. The only conceivable reason for them to turn up at the ranch and snatch Cary from his bedroom was to finish what they’d started earlier.
Aaron tried to swallow down his fear.
He had to get to his mate before they got the chance to hurt him further…or worse. Aaron had just found Cary.
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