Axel Summer Shifters Season 2

by Raines, Harmony

  Rogue stiffened slightly before he laughed, low and humorless. “Maybe you are right.”

  “So what did he steal? What was so valuable that you would nearly go to war with the Orion MC?” Axel was going to push until Rogue let something slip.

  “It’s personal.”

  “I think you mean a person.” Axel was answered by a low growl from Rogue.

  “So you do know.” His hand curled into a fist that he launched at Axel.

  He ducked and stepped to the side to avoid the blow, then instantly brought his fist up to connect with Rogue’s chin. There was a sickening thud before Rogue staggered backward, his back crashing into the wall behind. “I don’t want to fight. I came here to get information so that I can track them down. I want to make this right for all of us.”

  “There is no way to put this right.” Rogue sprang forward and grabbed Axel, but he saw the move coming and dodged out of the way.

  “There is always a way to put things right.” Axel dodged left and then right, putting the larger man off balance. With an upward jab, he landed another blow on Rogue’s chin.

  Rogue howled in pain and put his hand to his jaw as he shook his head. “I’m going to kill you.”

  “No, you are not, because I am the one person who can bring back the person Tyler stole.”

  “You’re talking bullshit. You didn’t even know what he’d taken before you came here, now you are saying you can bring them back.” Rogue spat blood onto the ground.

  “What have you got to lose?” Axel asked. “You have no leads. You have no idea where Tyler might have gone. So why fight me?”

  “Because we need you out of the way.” Rogue sneered as he ran at Axel.

  “Out of the way?” Axel repeated his words like an idiot.

  Jenessa, his cougar exclaimed.

  “What have you done?” Axel asked as he backed away toward his bike.

  “What needed to be done. We decided that Tyler is not going to come back without some kind of leverage. And you brought the leverage to town on the back of your bike.”

  “Jenessa.”

  “We figured a trade would be the ideal thing to flush Tyler out.”

  “A trade? Tyler won’t trade his mate for his sister,” Axel reminded Rogue.

  “Then he’ll feel the loss Hogg feels at losing his precious daughter.” Rogue held up his hands as Axel ran for his bike. “You aren’t going to get away from here.”

  “Want to bet?” Axel asked as he jumped onto the bike and started his engine.

  “I’m not a betting man but in this case, I do like my odds.” Rogue threw his hands in the air and howled before he shifted into a wolf and ran at Axel.

  Axel throttled the motorcycle forward and zig-zagged along the street to avoid being pounced on by the wolf. He could shift and run away in his cougar form, but he wasn’t ready to ditch the bike yet. This was their only mode of transport.

  Maybe Jenessa should have driven her little red car, his cougar suggested unhelpfully.

  Too late now, and I am not about to give this bike to the Hell Fire MC. Axel pushed his senses out farther. The people who had been hanging around were coming his way. He could sense them fanning out to block off all means of escape.

  You’re going to have to let me do this, his cougar said.

  Not yet. Axel put his foot out, nearly touching the ground as he leaned his weight to one side and turned the handlebars sharply. The bike responded, swinging around with a squeal of tires before Axel straightened himself and pushed the motorcycle forward, throttling it as he sped away leaving Rogue in his wake.

  As he rode forward, he kept his focus on the gathering wolves while processing what Rogue had said. Was it already too late to get back to the hotel and rescue Jenessa? If he could call her, would he have enough time to warn her about the people coming for her? They must have been followed back to the hotel. Was this Timone’s doing? Was the whole meeting a setup just so that they could track down Jenessa and use her as leverage?

  What about his mom and Ralph? Were they in danger, too?

  “Damn it,” he cursed as he sped along the waterfront.

  A wolf appeared from nowhere and sprang at the bike. Axel braked and then swerved so the guy missed him and ended up sprawled across the ground. With a howl, he got up and gave chase, even though he had no chance of catching the speeding bike.

  Ahead, three shadowy forms blocked the road, there was no way Axel could dodge them all. Going through them was an option, but someone would likely get hurt and there was a good chance they would bring the bike down and Axel would get injured, too. He recalled Jenessa’s wish for this to end peacefully, that the worse it got, the more bloody the injuries, the less chance of any of them living a life free from danger.

  He didn’t want to make a life with Jenessa where he was constantly looking over his shoulder. They’d likely have to leave Cougar Ridge and find a new place to live where no one knew them.

  His mom had lived in Cougar Ridge her whole life. It wasn’t fair they should have to leave. Especially if the only crime Tyler was guilty of was finding his mate.

  Axel throttled forward, his speed increasing. Time to play chicken.

  The three wolves up ahead stood their ground. Axel watched them all in the light of the streetlamps, looking for the weakest link. The wolf on the right shifted his weight, looking at the wolf in the middle with uncertainty. Perhaps the wolf might like a little midnight swim.

  It’s not midnight, his cougar corrected him, eager to take on the fight.

  And perhaps it was time to fight, time to show these wolves that they could not bully anyone they chose to.

  His anger surged and the man he used to be, the man others feared, resurfaced. Not because he wanted to make trouble but because he wanted to make peace. And the only way that would ever happen was if he and Jenessa found Tyler and brought him and his mate home.

  Axel aimed the bike at the center wolf, his eyes locked on him. Only at the last minute did he swerve at the wolf nearest the water. With a yowl, Axel winged the wolf and sent him over the edge into the water. The two other wolves turned to give chase as Axel went through their blockade. But Axel wasn’t about to run.

  Turning the bike around, he sped back toward them. The wolves prepared to pounce but Axel slowed the bike suddenly and leaped off the saddle, while the bike fell to the ground. The money in his pocket would pay for the repairs since he didn’t need to bribe Rogue for information.

  He shifted in midair as the metal of the bike scraped across the ground sending sparks flying. His cougar landed on all fours, assessed the situation, and then lashed out at the nearest wolf, scratching his face and leaving blood dripping in his eye. The second wolf looked shocked as the cougar sprang at him, swiping his neck with outstretched claws. A howl of rage filled the night as the wolf leaped at its feline foe, but the cougar was already springing away, leading the wolf toward the buildings. The wolf gave chase with his friend hot on his heels. Axel ran at the wall, his heart racing as he faced a dead-end. Behind him, the wolves slowed and howled in triumph as they realized their prey was cornered.

  The cougar turned, snarling as he faced them. Two wolves became three as the wolf he’d passed before caught them up.

  The more the merrier, his cougar snarled as he faced the three attackers.

  We need this over fast so we can get to Jenessa.

  I know, I know, but if we rush this, I might make a mistake, and then we won’t ever get to Jenessa.

  Perhaps we should take one of these idiots as our hostage, Axel suggested. Since that is what they plan to do with Jenessa.

  More trouble than they’re worth. We’ll find Jenessa, don’t worry. At least for now she is in no real danger. They want to use her as a bargaining chip, which means they need her alive.

  I think they want us dead, Axel said as one of the wolves ran at him.

  The cougar moved fast, swinging his front paw across the wolf’s face before leaping in the air and
landing on his back. He bit down on the wolf’s rump, drawing blood before he leaped upward to land in front of one of the other wolves.

  Instantly, the two wolves attacked, teeth bared, and claws raised. The cougar leaped into the air on all fours and the wolves collided with each other, knocking one another out.

  The cougar purred before he realized the first wolf was on the attack. The cougar’s hair stood on end as he turned and ran at the wolf.

  This wolf was not going to be the chicken and put his head down like a bull about to attack. The cougar leaped over him, ran at the wall, and jumped up it, four feet on the brick before he pushed himself off and, like a wrestler in the ring, slammed down on the wolf, knocking him to the ground.

  There was no one there to count him out, but the wolf stayed down. Axel’s cougar was the victor.

  Strutting with pride, the cougar ran back to the bike where he shifted. Axel picked up the fallen motorcycle, praying it would still run, but the damage looked superficial and when he started the engine it ran just like before. He’d gotten lucky with the bike, he just hoped he was as lucky when it came to the safety of his mate.

  Chapter Twenty-Two – Jenessa

  Jenessa hesitated at the doorway leading into the bar. This might be one of the worst ideas ever.

  Or, if Margo was working tonight and gave her some information, this might be one of the best ideas ever.

  As in business, this could go either way. She would only find out if she grabbed hold of the door handle and yanked it open.

  Teasers was a bar that attracted a young crowd and Jenessa felt old and out of place as she headed for the bar, battling her way past scantily clad young women and men who still looked and acted like boys. It sure had a different feel than O’Malley’s bar.

  “Hi, what can I get you?” A young man dressed in a black T-shirt which showed off his various tattoos looked her up and down.

  “Is Margo working tonight?” Jenessa asked.

  The guy sighed. “Did her mom send you?”

  Hmm, this could go either way. Would Margo be more or less likely to see her if she said yes? Jenessa nodded, with a concerned expression on her face. “I just want a quick word.”

  The guy inclined his head toward the back of the bar. “She’s outside on her break.” He moved on to his next eager customer without giving Jenessa a second look.

  “Thanks,” Jenessa said out of habit even though the guy could not hear her above the sound of the other people in the bar. The noise was almost too much and Jenessa had no doubt no one came to Teasers for the conversation.

  Ducking a hand filled with a glass that was thrust out in front of her, she made her way out of the back of the bar. Past the kitchen and a small room with sofas which she guessed was a staff break room, she looked for the girl from the Facebook photos. The smell of cigarette smoke pulled her on until she exited out of the back door. There was the girl from the photos puffing angrily on a cigarette.

  “Hi.” Jenessa lifted her hand and waved.

  “Hello.” The girl stood up straight and dropped the cigarette butt on the ground before screwing her heel into it.

  “Margo, right?” Jenessa had rehearsed what she was going to say in her head but when met with the hard, suspicious look from Margo she stalled.

  “Who wants to know?” Margo rolled her shoulders back and squared up to Margo.

  “I’m…” Jenessa stalled.

  “You’re...” Margo tilted her head to one side as she glared at Jenessa. “You’re not one of my mom’s friends, are you? Because if you are, you can tell her I am not coming home while that deadbeat man of hers is living there. Do you know what he did?”

  “No.” Jenessa held up her hand, not needing any more details. “I don’t know your mom and that is not why I am here.”

  “Then why are you here?” Her eyes narrowed with intense suspicion.

  “I’m looking for Colleen.”

  “Oh, so that’s it. Well, as I have told everyone else, I have no idea where she is.” Margo headed toward the door leading to the bar.

  “Wait, I just want to know if she ran off with Tyler.” Jenessa took out her phone and scrolled through her gallery to an image of a smiling Tyler. “He’s my brother and he seems to have gotten himself in a whole mess of trouble. I want to help him. I know he’s been accused of stealing from the Hell Fire MC and I want to know if the thing he’s accused of taking is Colleen.”

  Margo shook her head. “Tyler.”

  “So you know him.” That was a start at least.

  “Yeah, he came around and messed everything up. Colleen and I were planning on running away together. She is so fed up with her old man controlling her life. And I am sick of my mom’s boyfriends...” Margo rubbed the bridge of her nose. “And right when we have it all planned out, she meets Tyler. The man of her dreams.”

  “I know you’re angry with them.”

  “Do you?”

  “I do. I’m angry, too. Tyler ran off without telling anyone.” Jenessa wasn’t lying. Over the last couple of weeks, with all the trouble and worry Tyler’s disappearance had caused, Jenessa’s emotions had ranged from angry to afraid, and everything in between. Seeing her dad threatened and powerless had magnified all these emotions. “I just want to know they are safe. To know they aren’t in danger.”

  “Danger, do you have any idea what Colleen’s dad will do to them when he finds them?” Margo stepped forward, her fists clenched. “Is that who sent you?”

  “No, I told you, I’m Tyler’s sister. I want to find them before Colleen’s dad does.” Jenessa had gotten the information she’d come here for. Tyler had run off with Colleen and her dad was not happy. But did Margo know more?

  “I don’t know any more than that.” Margo wound her head back and straightened up, staring at the wall in front of her. “We had plans.”

  “You don’t think she went through with those plans alone?” Jenessa asked. “Were you heading somewhere? Perhaps you planned to leave the country?”

  Margo closed her eyes and shook her head. “We just wanted to get away. I wanted to go to the city, but Colleen liked the idea of small-town life where she could...” She looked at Jenessa. “You know...”

  “Shift. Did she have a place in mind?” Jenessa jumped as her phone rang.

  “No, she didn’t,” Margo said quickly. “We were still figuring it all out.” Margo glanced at the phone she grasped in her hand. “My break is over, I need to get back to work.”

  “Margo...” But Margo was gone and Jenessa checked her phone to see who was calling. “Axel.”

  “Where are you?” He sounded breathless and worried.

  She closed her eyes. “Sorry, I should have left a note.”

  “You’re not at the hotel?” He sounded relieved.

  “No, I got a lead and followed it. What’s going on?” Jenessa had expected to be back before Axel even knew she was gone. He didn’t seem concerned that she’d gone off on her own. “I’m guessing the meeting didn’t go as planned.”

  “No, it didn’t. Listen, stay where you are, I need to make another phone call. Text me your location and I’ll come meet you.” The call ended and Jenessa stared at her phone, her anxiety spiking. Axel was checking in on her and was relieved she was not back at the hotel. Which meant someone must have gone there to look for her.

  She looked up and down the alleyway. Was she safe here? What if there was someone in the bar watching Margo? Hogg might be convinced the young woman knew where Colleen was and had her followed. Which meant Hogg might know Jenessa was here and send someone over for her. She had to move.

  Ducking out of the alleyway, she cut across the street, checking that there was no one following her. Although with shifter senses, there could be someone lurking in the shadows keeping a watch on her. If only she had her own shifter senses. But she didn’t so she’d have to figure this out using her brain.

  She crossed the street and hurried along the sidewalk before entering another ba
r. This one wasn’t as busy as Teasers and the customers were older and more mature. She could stay here and wait for Axel to meet her. But that might simply put them both in danger. Hogg could organize a posse to be waiting outside by the time Axel arrived.

  Then she saw her chance. A group of people was getting up ready to leave. One of the women headed for the bathroom and Jenessa crossed the bar to mingle on the edge of the group before she returned.

  Stripping off her jacket, despite the cool evening air outside, she folded it over so that the outside could not be seen. Then she draped it over her arm. Pushing her hair back from her face, she rummaged in her purse for a spare hairband and quickly tied her long locks into a messy bun. There was little else she could do to hide her appearance. All she had to do now was insert herself into the middle of the group and look as if she belonged.

  Quickly assessing the people, a group of six, two men and four women, she tried to figure out her plan. The group moved forward as the young woman who had gone to the bar returned and Jenessa moved with them, but there was no way she could simply leave with them and walk down the street without some kind of excuse.

  “Hey, can I buy you a drink?” A man approached her.

  “No, I’m fine, thank you.” She did not need that kind of attention. Or did she?

  “I saw you taking off your coat and putting your hair up. I figured you were on the prowl.” He curled his hand into claws and growled.

  Jenessa stifled a laugh, the guy was half drunk and swayed a little on his feet. He was also no match for her real shifter. “I took my coat off and put my hair up because I was hot.”

  He smiled seductively and looked her up and down. “You sure are.”

  “Look, I am not interested.” She gave him a firm look and hurried after the group as they were leaving, making sure to bump into the guy at the back. “Sorry.”

  He turned around and she put on her best damsel in distress look. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, the guy over there was hassling me.” She shot a look at the guy who was staring after her. He was no threat, but he made a good excuse to ask for help. “Could I walk down the street with you guys? I’ll get my boyfriend to come meet me.”