Reclaim

The Sigma Menace 3.5

By Marie Johnston

Reclaim

Copyright © 2015 by Lisa Elijah

Copyediting by EbookEditingServices.com

Second Edition Edit by The Killion Group

Cover by P and N Graphics

The characters, places, and events in this story are fictional. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are coincidental and unintentional.

Master Dane Bellamy was once the commander of the West Creek Guardians, a pack of wolf-shifters charged with protecting local shifter packs. Over a century ago, tragedy struck his growing family, driving him away with a fierce need for revenge. He returned to a devastated, withdrawn mate who resented him for leaving her to fulfill his obligations. Now, he’s immersed himself in training the Guardians of his pack, while he and his mate have become nothing more than roommates, until the secret life she’s been living brings danger to their doorstep. Suddenly Dane finds himself not just fighting to save his broken relationship, but their lives as well.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Epilogue

To my parents: Thank you.

Prologue

150 years ago…

“You’re leaving?” Irina Bellamy was equal parts incredulous and furious but the anger was quickly overtaking her disbelief. The audacity of her mate. Leave? At a time like this?

“They must pay for what they did,” her mate Dane said. Grim lines etched deep into his frown.

Irina could barely keep her eyes open. The silver toxicity should’ve killed her, and she spent most of her recovery up to this point wishing it had. Why had she lived and not their adorable little Kade, with his dark curls and impish smile? Why had she been allowed to live after having her womb and the young life inside carved out of her? Now Dane wanted to leave her, too? She had already lost her son and unborn baby. It wasn’t fair. Life wasn’t fair.

Struggling to sit upright, Dane shushed her and tried to get her to lie back down. Her wounds stretched and burned with her movement. Being forced to recover the old-fashioned way—time and rest—unable to rely on her wolf-shifter healing abilities due to the silver knives the butchers had used, Irina still had a long recovery ahead of her.

She stared into his determined eyes. He didn’t see her. Those sea-green eyes used to be filled with love and good humor, but now they were filled with duty and thoughts of retribution. Why couldn’t he see? She needed him, with her. She’d had most of her world ripped away and all that remained was readying himself to walk out the door.

“Don’t leave me.” Irina barely managed the words that left her short of breath from the miniscule movements.

Dane’s brow creased. Irina feared he didn’t get it, truly didn’t get it. “You’ll be cared for here by the healers,” he reassured her. He looked down as he fisted his hands, jaw clenched, thinking hard and choosing his words. “I’ll not depart for every mission worrying about my family while I’m gone. Me and the boys are riding out and we’ll extinguish every last one of them.”

Leaning over to give her a soft kiss on the cheek, he smoothed her pale hair off her face. For a brief second, she saw the Dane she’d loved for centuries, before his concerned expression was replaced by one of ruthless resolve.

She reached to grab for him, yearning for his touch, his comfort. But her weakness made her slow and Dane left, not noticing her beckon him. Her hand flopped back down onto the bed, a tear running from the corner of her eye into her hair, followed by another, and another.

Silently weeping, because to do any sobbing in heart-wrenching grief would have been too physically painful, Irina let her tears run as she wondered about a future she didn’t want.

She was stuck in this colony, where the healers came to her only as often as required, their eyes full of sympathy; so much so that few could bear to look at her. Laughter and play of the children filtered in through the open window, and it shattered her already devastated heart. It broke even further as she heard mothers shooing the children away from the building where Irina lay in her private despair.

He’ll not depart worrying about his family. Irina gave a weak disgusted snort despite the pain it brought. What family? Sigma destroyed her family and made it impossible to have any more young. She and Dane had been mated for nearly two centuries before they were blessed by the Sweet Mother with a young boy. They were both over the moon ecstatic when she soon came to bear another babe. Now they were both gone and she was a mere shell of her former self. Perhaps it would be possible for her to return to some sort of life, find a new reason for continuing on. But she’d depend on her mate to do that and she feared his revenge would eat away any heart left in him.

*****

“No one lives.” Commander Dane Bellamy gave the order to the three shifters of his pack accompanying him on this mission. They’d rode out weeks ago, searching for the group of Sigma Agents responsible for the attack on Dane’s pack.

Dane hadn’t approached the Lycan Council, hadn’t officially requested to hunt down the Sigma chapter that came after his pack. He’d lost two Guardians and their families, aside from his own loss.

Dane’s heart twisted and he clenched his eyes shut, willing the swell of grief back down where it wouldn’t affect his work. Worry about Irina made him sick, but the head healer of Half Moon Clan assured him she was past the worst and would continue to mend.

Dane and three other Guardians hid in anticipation, waiting patiently for cloud cover so they could transform into their wolves and use the shadows to silently attack and kill the group of fifteen Sigma members.

Dane addressed the males flanking him. “Once we start, there is no going back. You still have time to turn around.”

Mercury, a male Dane rescued from living as a wolf with a pack of natural wolves, wore a perplexed expression. Dane had explained to him that there was no time to approach the council for permission for his personal vendetta. And if they’d had the time, Dane doubted the council would have approved. Those ancient shifters were too out of touch with the reality packs were facing in the world today.

“I’m in.” Mercury shook his head as if he couldn’t believe any of their team would leave.

And none of them would. Rhys Fitzsimmons, his second in command, and Benjamin Young shook their heads also, retribution shining in their gazes. Though Rhys was closest to him in age, the three Guardians felt almost like sons to him.

With sad resignation, Dane realized that was the only way he would know what fatherhood felt like. The few fleeting years he’d had with Kade were the best in his life and in his matehood, and now they were gone, with no opportunity to experience them again.

Dane outlined how they would attack, how they would kill, and how to hunt down any who got away. When Dane’s vendetta was complete, he would return to the clan and gather Irina. They would move on to their next post—if the council didn’t execute him outright.

With a final nod, he regarded each of his shifters and repeated, “No one lives.”

Chapter One

Present day, West Creek

Irina leaned back and stretched her arms over her head before going back to the screen in front of her. It all looked good. Time to hit the enter button. This was the most satisfying part of her work. The final moments, when all her hard work was getting sent out to the masses.

She’d gathered quite an audience over the years. Western Romance was still a popular genre, only now the women were saucier, the male’s more virile, and today’s technology let Irina write more than she was able to in the past when she had to snail mail manuscripts and have multiple phone calls with her publisher. No more middleman. Irina pumped the stories out and readers gobbled them up.

Glancing outside, Irina saw it was a beautiful day to run and she could think of no better way to celebrate a new book release than to strip down and run the woods she’d grown to love so much.

Though she could work anywhere, Irina hoped they weren’t assigned out of West Creek for at least a century, maybe two. She liked it here and she liked being able to set down roots even more. Assigning Guardians permanent headquarters, instead of being nomadic lawkeepers for their species, was one of the few good decisions the stale, geriatric Lycan Council had made.

Well, that along with not executing her mate all those years ago for defying Guardian procedure. At the time she wouldn’t have been able to survive Dane’s death, but now it was as if he’d been gone to her for years. They were strangers breathing the same air. He didn’t know of her work, they didn’t talk, they didn’t touch…

With a heavy sigh, Irina shed her yellow sundress and stepped outside, transitioning to her fair-colored wolf to run.

The air was fresh, the sun high, and Irina felt free. The council sought ways to punish Dane and his pack over the last hundred-some years, like sending ill-tempered, inexperienced Guardians for training. Their placement in West Creek, known for its rougher crowd of shifters and humans alike, was probably meant as another dig, even though Rhys Fitzsimmons had been pack leader for decades. But the joke was on the council.

West Creek had been a boon to the pack. First, they recruited Jace after helping him rescue his mate, Cassie. The couple joined the pack. Then Mercury, her dear Mercury, discovered his mate, Dani, already carrying his child. She had belonged to Sigma and was looking for a way out when an experiment gave her the means to leave and run to Mercury. Dani was now their security expert, Mercury’s powers were developing nicely, and from what Irina could tell, their little Dante was quite a beloved handful.

Then there was brash, broken Benji, wait, Bennett. She still thought of as him Benjamin, but he had changed his name after a horrible betrayal before the turn of the previous century. Bennett discovered his destined mate had been living almost on top of them. Sarah was in hiding, and he protected her and figured out a way to fake her death, buying the Guardians time to find out why Sigma wanted her dead.

A hybrid, Irina mused. She wasn’t surprised Sarah carried human, shifter, and vampire genetics. They’d been on this planet too long to not procreate together. Many shifters had forgotten the days when shifters never found human mates. Now, even though human-shifter offspring maintained dominate shifter traits, they were not nearly as strong as the Ancients.

Irina’s father was an Ancient who took a human mate, but both of her parents were slaughtered in the Extinction hundreds of years ago when their race was almost wiped out. After that, human mates were much more common. It was that or die out, and she imagined it was the same for the vampires. Vampires and shifters could only war so long before they either killed each other or copulated with each other.

Irina was close to the little waterfall Dane liked to hang out in. Downwind, he shouldn’t sense her, still she approached cautiously. A part of her wondered if she would ever run here, find her mate swimming, and dive in to wrap her body around him. They hadn’t had sex in…Oh well, who’s counting?

Dane trained the Guardians and lately he’d been busy with the new addition, Parrish, a Guardian boy Mercury rescued. Irina worked all day in her office, and he only came home to sleep. In the cabin they shared, like estranged roommates, he slept in the spare room and she in the main bedroom. He’d fill her in on pertinent news and she’d offer no further conversation.

Irina dreaded the next evening. Bennett and Sarah were getting officially mated by Commander Fitzsimmons. She had gutted her way through making an appearance at Jace’s and Mercury’s matings. Now, there was to be a third mating in a little over a year. She should be ecstatic. The shifters she loved were finding happiness, but that meant she had to pretend her life wasn’t in shambles.

Creeping noiselessly over an incline, Irina peered through the growth to see if it was all clear for an afternoon swim, though deep down she sensed Dane beat her to the location.

What she saw made her pulse hammer and her irritation flare with it. That male should not make her feel like this after all these years. Seeing the sunlight glint off water droplets as Dane strode out of the water made her memories of the passion they once shared all too clear.

He reached up to run a hand through his hair. Water drops glittered as they flew from his dark hair that held just a hint of gray, giving him a distinguished appeal. His body, Sweet Mother, his body made her feel like a young, passionate female all over again. The daily training kept his muscles ripped and hard. To a human, he might look like an exceptionally fit fortyish-year-old man, while she might be considered a youthful mid-thirties. The reality was that they were both hundreds of years old.

Now that his senses weren’t dulled by the water, he might hear her stalking away. It was excuse enough to wait it out until he left, hopefully in the other direction. Irina really wanted to swim. At least that’s what she told herself to keep her belly planted on the ground, spying on her mate.

Irina waited for him to change into his wolf and trot off, but instead, he sat on a large boulder on the shoreline of the little pool the falls made. Stretching out in the sun, his magnificent body on display, Irina couldn’t take her eyes off him.

She should leave, she really should.

With mounting interest, she watched as a certain body part of Dane’s she was once intimately acquainted with lengthened. Her eyes wide, Dane languidly stroked himself.

She should leave, she really should.

The strokes gained in force and momentum. Irina’s mind went back to the times she would do that for him before settling herself down on top of his length. She would ride him, watching his face like she was doing now, see him grit his teeth at the pleasure, his breaths coming quicker until the final push took them both with in a simultaneous explosion.

A grunt and a curse could be heard as Dane came into his hand. Desire drained out of Irina’s body as she watched him rinse off in the water. He seemed less relaxed and more irritated than before. Did he wish to lie with someone else? He was a virile Guardian and it was always said there was none more true than a mated Guardian. But they had their drives and needs. Where had he been getting his met? And why did he quit coming to her?

Finally, Dane flowed into his dark wolf and ran deep into the trees. Irina waited a few minutes to make sure it was all clear. After her voyeurism, she didn’t feel like a swim anymore, but it was better than running into Dane out in the woods, or even worse, at their cabin.

*****

Dane ran back to the lodge. After his swim, he’d circled the area around the falls and perched where he’d sensed Irina had watched him bathe. She probably thought the falls had masked her scent, but he’d been without her for so long that it didn’t take much to alert him to her presence. Obviously, it was why he got hard and in a move so uncharacteristic of him, stroked himself off in front of her.

Okay, so maybe he hoped she’d drop down and join him; let a starving male sate himself on her luscious body. Nope, she’d just watched him. Was she even moved by his desire? 

He spied on her, thinking maybe he’d inspired her to satisfy herself and he could watch. No, again. She walked out of the water, her lithe body shining like a water goddess in the sunlight, and glanced at the large rock he’d reclined on, shifted, and left.

That female had him worked up in knots. The night they’d lost their children, and her ability to bear any more young, he feared he’d lost her, too. When he’d returned from his hunt for revenge and informed her the murderers had perished, he’d been met with a despondent mate who’d merely shrugged. Left with no other ideas of how to improve his mate’s depression, he’d backed away and thrown himself into his duty to allow her room to heal. It had taken years of minimal conversation and very little physical contact, but eventually they’d become nothing but an empty mating bond.

Purpose riding Dane the last bit of distance to the lodge, he vowed that would change. Irina would either open up to him or they were done. For good.

Snatching his robe off a hook inside the doorway, Dane made his way to the locker rooms. Parrish should be ready and waiting for him. They always sparred before supper, mostly to work up a hearty appetite in the kid.

Only seventeen, Parrish had been severely emaciated when Mercury brought him to the lodge. After he’d healed from the torture Sigma doled out, the boy had mentally withdrawn and it showed physically. Now that Dane was drawing him out of his shell during training, he was eating better and packing on muscle.

The kid still didn’t talk, only used sign language. His other senses were fine, and Dane suspected so were his vocal chords. They needed to know not only why he wouldn’t talk, but why Sigma captured him in the first place. He knew way more than he was letting on and the trick would be to get him to open up without mentally shutting down.

It’d probably be easier for Dane than getting his mate to talk to him.

Parrish hopped up as soon as Dane entered. He nodded and they both headed to the gym. It was empty this time of day and Dane worked the young male through the series of moves he’d been taught.

They sparred, no padding, taking the brunt of each other’s hits. Parrish had been timid at first, afraid to hurt Dane. Once he got past that, he became entranced, like each hit he got on Dane was one he dished out to his captors. It kept Dane on his toes, because, damn, the kid was getting stronger.

Giving the signal to stop for the day, they both stood, hands on knees, panting.

“Tomorrow, Parrish, you’re going to spar with Jace.”

Parrish nodded. Dane would have preferred Kaitlyn to spar with Parrish first since she was experienced in teaching martial arts, but he got the feeling that Parrish would freak out having to hit a female. It’d probably change when the female doled out more than Parrish was ready for, and Kaitlyn would show no mercy, but Dane didn’t want any setbacks. He’d get Parrish used to sparring with someone else, then bring Kaitlyn in and work his way up through the more experienced Guardians.

Dane clapped him on the shoulder. “Before we clean up, I want you to answer one question.”

Parrish tensed, sensing Dane was asking for more than a training question.

“Can you talk?” Dane knew they’d asked Parrish this before, but it was shortly after he’d arrived at the lodge, when questions about his past were answered by moaning from the fetal position.

Paling even more than normal, brushing his white-blond hair behind his ear, he finally nodded.

Dane gave a curt nod. “Go eat. Tomorrow we train, and you can help me get ready for Bennett’s mating ritual.”

Relieved there were no follow-up questions, Parrish loped off. Dane planned on one question at a time until he felt Parrish could handle more.

Heading to the kitchen himself to grab some food, Dane thought about what needed to be done for the next night. Mating rituals were more a party for the guests than for the couple. The couple usually left to be by themselves while the guests joined together in revelry.

If Dane helped prepare, then that was less time he had to hang around his cabin being avoided by his mate. What Irina did, typing away in that office, was unknown. Even before computers, she was always typing. Now it was nonstop and she’d become quite the techie.

She’d said she’d come tomorrow night. Probably not just for Bennett, but to keep up appearances that while she was a hermit, there was nothing wrong with their relationship.

What a time to make that claim. They’d get to witness a couple deeply in love start their life together while their bond crumpled under the tragedies of the past.

Chapter Two

I know what you are.

Irina read those words over again. She was cruising through her emails, replying to fans, when this gem popped up, sent from Lycabyter29. Another user name and Irina would’ve ignored it, but the name conjured up shifters and vampires alike. Maybe the sender meant computer byte. Maybe the sender liked the play on words. Maybe. Or maybe “Lycan biter” was literal.

Damn. Sitting back in her chair, staring at the words, her mind whirled. Should she reply? Ignore it? The sender said what, though, not who.

Deciding on the reply option since she replied to all of her fan mail, she sent back a question asking what he had meant. Or she, it could be a woman.

Noting the time, Irina decided to continue working on her newest novel. Opening up the document and finding where she had left off, she groaned. A naughty scene. The past had been revisiting her too much lately and not the bad part. Her mind had been prodding her with memories of how good it had been between her and Dane. Then after watching him yesterday, she had to sit down and write a sex scene.

No way to the end but through. Irina dived into the scene, using those conjured memories to fuel the passion between her characters. At least she could write them a happy ending, if not one for her herself.

Saving her work and backing it up, she faced reality. Time to get dressed for Bennett and Sarah’s mating. For her, that meant just changing into a different sundress. Just as she finished, she heard Dane go into his room to clean up and change, so she checked her email again.

Lycabyter29 sent her a picture of a wolf howling at the moon. Swallowing hard, Irina couldn’t do more than stare at the photo for several minutes. Finally, she hit reply:

And what are you?

“All set?” His deep rumble scrambled her thoughts, making her frantically exit out of her files. None of the Guardians knew what she did with her time. At first, she didn’t think they’d approve of it. Mostly she was afraid Commander Fitzsimmons, or her duty-bound husband, would report her to the council and they’d order her to stop. Then what would she have to do with herself for the rest of her long life?

“Yes, I’m ready.” Turning with a hesitant smile to cover up her fluster, she caught her breath. He wasn’t dressed much differently than usual—black slacks that enhanced his tapered hips and muscular thighs and a nice viridian shirt that brought out his vibrant green eyes, the fabric accentuating his broad shoulders and wide chest.

She flushed under his perusal sweeping her body. This was nonsense. They’d been together so long, his attention shouldn’t affect her. But it did and she felt like it had been an eternity since she’d had any sort of attention from him.

At one time, they didn’t just mind-speak, they shared their sight. Only strong, well developed mating bonds allowed that. They barely spoke words to each other anymore, much less shared a mental connection. How long had it been since they’d been in each other’s mind? Decades?

Walking side by side in silence they reached the mating ceremony shortly before it started. Irina forced herself to be present, she owed it to Bennett. He’d been through so much and she’d been wrapped up in her own misery that she’d been of no use to him. Not that he’d have wanted her help. The rift between Bennett and Dane had been severe after Dane killed Bennett’s human wife when she had betrayed them all.

Her dear wildling Mercury, the lost boy she helped nurture into a strong male, had helped Bennett through the loss of his wife until he found Sarah, a mate to be proud of, and who finally healed his wounds completely. 

Speaking of Mercury, she hadn’t been there for him, either. He came to her once, shortly after he met Dani, distraught with unfamiliar feelings. The conversation was going well until it wasn’t, and she pretty much kicked him out. It was still hard for her to be around Mercury and Dani. Not because seeing them happy with a bouncing bundle of joy bothered her. It was the fear and knowledge of how easily it all could be ripped away that scared her. In truth, she’d rather not get attached and save herself the heartache of what-ifs.

Cheers rose as Bennett and Sarah sealed their bond in blood and Commander Fitzsimmons presented them with their mating gladdus, the ceremonial dagger used to bind the couple. Much like Mercury and Dani, Bennett and Sarah grinned and shook hands greeting everyone before running off to their cabin to hunker down for a long night of passionate lovemaking.

Irina sighed wistfully watching them go and didn’t miss Dane’s scrutiny. Turning away, she started back to the cabin.

“Irina, I’d like you meet Parrish.” Dane called to her.

The last thing she wanted was an awkward meet and greet. Of course she’d heard about the boy, but she’d been mulish. She hadn’t learned sign language and avoided crossing paths with him. It was a crappy move, but it was a matter of time before someone thought foisting the boy on her would be a good idea. After all, she’d taken the wildling, Mercury, under wing and nurtured his human side until he was a capable shifter. However, if she couldn’t communicate with Parrish, then it wouldn’t happen, and she wouldn’t have to emerge from her emotionally protected cocoon.

Forcing a pleasant smile onto her face, she turned and stretched out her hand to shake the teen’s. His grip was hesitant, his gaze downcast, and she felt like shit. This was a damaged young boy, and he made all of her maternal instincts fire up.

Irina couldn’t help herself. She brought her other hand to grab his, encasing it in both of hers.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Parrish,” she said warmly, meaning every word.

He looked up to meet her eyes and opened his mouth to say something, but slammed it closed, gaze dropping to the ground.

“Are you okay?” Concern filled Dane’s voice.

The boy nodded, still not raising his head. Irina was not a short female, but Parrish was still much taller than her and she could see indecision in his downcast eyes.

“Go to the party, Parrish,” Dane ordered, trying to prod the kid to socialize. “Eat a ton of food, have fun, and be ready at our normal time tomorrow.”

Parrish turned to go, then turned back to Irina and made a quick motion with his hands before he darted off.

“What was that?” Irina asked Dane. Note to self, learn sign language.

Dane’s considering gaze followed the young male. “He said, ‘don’t go alone.’”

*****

A week had passed since the mating and Dane worked up to two questions a day. Parrish fielded them well, albeit hesitantly: he quit talking about five years ago, he had no siblings, his mom was alive, his dad dead, and yes he had a special ability. Now it was time to move forward.

“We need to talk.” Dane had waited until after Parrish was done showering before making the announcement. They’d wrapped up early and Dane knew the boy suspected why, by the way he dragged himself to go the showers.

Folding himself down on the bench in the locker room, Dane remembered a day not long ago when he had a long talk with another shifter in this very room. Kaitlyn made the decision that day to join the Guardians. If the locker room intervention worked for her, maybe it would work for Parrish.

“Let’s just start with you telling me what you’re comfortable with telling me.” There was no reason to beat around the bush. Either Parrish would talk or he wouldn’t, and neither one wanted to prolong it further by playing twenty-one questions over the span of several days.

Parrish grabbed the side of the bench and rocked back and forth staring at the ceiling. Dane was afraid he was losing him again, but on closer inspection it seemed as if Parrish was considering where to start. Finally, Parrish released his hands and started talking.

I have premonitions.

Not a surprise. It was a theory Rhys and Dane had been tossing around after a tidbit an Agent tossed their way. It’d been weighing heavily on his mind, that the boy had passed a warning to Irina. But why, and about what? Shifter seers were rumored to have been very fair in coloring and very, very rare. Parrish fit the description, and Sigma must’ve know what he was. Regardless, he was so young and inexperienced, Dane doubted Parrish even knew what his warning was about.

They come out through my voice.

Shit. No wonder he never said a word. He’d risk spewing visions about every person he attempted conversation with.

“Can you talk at all without telling fortunes?”

I used to.

“When?”

Before Sigma took us.

Huh. Us. That was the first Dane heard about others with Parrish. Had they been killed?

Silence passed with the minutes while Parrish was deciding what to say. Dane hoped he’d elaborate on the “us” part of the story.

Can I tell you more tomorrow?

Dane resisted a sigh. They’d definitely made more progress and he could be patient, but dammit, he didn’t want to be. For a moment he let himself wish he didn’t have to use his immense patience with Parrish, on his mate, or on every other aspect in his life.

I’m sorry.

Hell, now Dane felt like crap. His selfish emotions spilled over to this young kid who’d been severely traumatized and was finally trusting him enough to come out of his shell.

“It’s not you, Parrish. My mind was reflecting on other things.” It wasn’t a complete lie. The situation with Irina had been getting under his skin lately. “Of course we can talk more tomorrow.”

After Parrish left, Dane sat staring at the wall. He could go home and see if Irina was around, maybe try to talk to her. They’d gone years and years doing a good job ignoring each other and would’ve kept it up, but all the mating rituals in the last year left them surrounded with happy couples blissfully in love, and it sucked.

Each mating ritual brought back memories of a much younger Dane, facing a fresh-faced Irina, her long golden hair flowing down her back, those cornflower-blue eyes beaming at him in adoration. The day of the ceremony had been the best day of his life, and the night of the ceremony had been meteoric. He and Irina had been compatible in so many ways. Their bond had grown so strong, their telepathic communication had been like a video between them instead of just words. He was the consummate leader while she nurtured and cared for those under his command, a true mother to the pack. She’d been an even better mother to their son. Dane rarely allowed himself to think about Kade anymore, or the baby they lost in the attack who hadn’t stood a chance at life.

Dane heaved himself up. He wouldn’t allow himself to think about it now, either. It was time to run his wolf and go for a swim.

Chapter Three

Lycabyter29 was a problem. He just declared his undying love for Irina in his latest email.

Crazy fucking vampire, if he really was one. He was dangerous even if he was just delusional in his conclusions. Unfortunately, except for the true mate part of his claims, he’d been spot on about what she was. And he wanted to meet her.

Irina hadn’t responded to any more of his emails, was still deciding what to do. She’d become pretty computer savvy, holed up in the little cabin in the middle of nowhere, but she couldn’t hack computers and track her cyber stalker. But she knew someone who possibly could.

Letting herself into the lodge, Irina hoped she wouldn’t run into anyone. She was enough of a hermit that they’d question what she was doing there and, while she knew they’d all find out soon enough, she strived to keep her private life private.

Heading down a long hallway to Dani’s office, Irina’s nose twitched. It smelled like someone had sex recently. Her lips quirked unbidden as she remembered those days after Kade was born when her and Dane would couple together anytime and anywhere possible. She waited for the familiar heartache that began after she thought of her beautiful little boy, but it didn’t come. Strangely, Irina found herself pleased that Mercury and Dani were making time for themselves. They’d both come so far and it’d been way too long since this pack had young to care for. It was time.

Knocking lightly on the office door before she walked in, Irina stopped to take in the office setup.

Dani swung around in her chair, astonishment lighting her face. “Irina!” She made a move to stand, but Irina waved her back down.

“This is amazing.” It was all Irina could think of saying. Monitors spread across Dani’s desk in one hundred and eighty degrees. The surrounding woods, the area around the cabins, and various points in the lodge transmitted on the screens.

On Dani’s desk were schematics for numerous weapons. From the sketches it appeared she collected traits from each type to make specialized weapons for the Guardians. Irina’s heart sped up. That would be awesome. In fact, as much as she liked writing about Westerns, she was working on a new Steampunk series, and she would love to bounce ideas off Dani.

“Isn’t it?” Dani’s voice sounded as excited as Irina felt. “I’m getting the system set up to send me updates when there’s activity in the trees. I’ve already programmed my phone to be able to see views of each screen so I don’t have to be tied to the office quite as much.”

“Do you have another room where you try out those?” Irina gestured to the drawings on Dani’s desk.

“Oh, these are just ideas. I would love to bring them to fruition. Commander Fitzsimmons gave me the go ahead. I’ve just been so busy setting up all this stuff and upgrading it.”

Ah yes. The disturbed Guardian who had been killed while he was trying to slay Dani had done a good job of getting the pack situated in West Creek and installing their security. Although, much of it had been geared toward his interests of spying on them for the council. When Dani joined the pack and took over technical security, she gave it a much needed overhaul.

“You’re working on some new concepts?”

“Yeah. I figured it’d be a good way to use Dante’s naptime.” Dani’s face filled with maternal pride as she glanced over to the little playpen that held her sleeping son.

Irina had avoided looking in that direction, not sure how she’d react to the little guy. Since he was still sleeping, she didn’t have to worry. She wanted to ask her questions and get out of there before he woke.

“I won’t keep you long. I just have some questions about email addresses.”

Dani tilted her head in interest, no doubt wondering what a recluse like Irina did with email addresses. The older Guardians probably remembered the days when Irina had boxes of her electronics shipped to wherever they were residing. Since they’d been here, technology had become more streamlined that she didn’t need near the amount of equipment she used to.

“What do you need to know?”

“Can you track one?”

Dani frowned, thinking for a minute. “I can try. I’ve dabbled in it a bit, and I’m getting better at hacking, but I’m still pretty novice. What’s wrong?”

The young woman would make inquiries about Irina’s request, and frankly she was glad. It meant Dani’s priority was pack safety. “Nothing yet. But he’s sent me some emails that make me think I should look into him more.”

“What kind of emails?”

“Ones that make me think he knows of our world. Here’s his address.”

At the name, Dani raised her eyebrows and almost whistled but glanced quickly over to where her son slept, stopping herself. “Is he making threats?”

Irina shook her head. “No, but he’s getting pushy. He wants to meet and I’m afraid when I don’t acquiesce, he’ll cause trouble.”

Nodding in agreement, Dani typed away, already working on the address. “How did he get your email, anyway?”

And here was the moment Irina was dreading. “I do some online work and keep an email for business.”

Dani stopped what she was doing and faced Irina. “What kind of work?”

Irina hesitated, knowing this was the end of her secret career. “I’m a writer. Romances mostly, Westerns.”

The young woman’s mouth fell open in surprise.

“I write about nothing that would give us away.”

Dani’s brow creased trying to understand. “Does the pack know? No one’s ever mentioned anything.”

With a deep sigh, Irina sank into the spare chair in Dani’s office. “I’ve never mentioned it. Dane might have known a long time ago when I conferred with my publisher via snail mail, but he never asked and I never elaborated on it.” Irina leveled her gaze on Dani. “If the council knew, they would most likely make me stop, not trusting me to keep my identity hidden.”

A subtle raised eyebrow made Irina wonder if Dani didn’t agree. But Dani shook her head. “There’s so much more to worry about than that. So many more ways we might be discovered.” She turned back to start clicking away again. “But Irina, you have to let the pack know. I don’t keep secrets from them.”

Mercury had found such a quality mate, but damn she could be irritating. “I figured I’d have to tell them once he kept emailing me.”

“Here,” Dani slid the keyboard toward Irina, “show me the emails. And Irina, once I find something, or even if I don’t, I’m going to have to report to the commander.”

Dani stared unflinchingly at Irina, no fear or hesitation. She either trusted Irina wouldn’t lash out or she was confident she could handle herself. Very admirable. After all, she was nearly a stranger to Dani.

“Worry not. I’ll talk to Dane tonight and Dani.” Irina finished pulling up her email and laid her hand on Dani’s arm, meeting the woman’s intelligent chocolate gaze. “I’m extremely glad Mercury has you and the pack has you.”

Dani’s eyes widened at the sudden compliment, and she blinked rapidly at the tears welling up in her eyes. “Sorry, damn hormones,” she muttered, wiping at her eyes.

Irina chuckled gently. “It’s normal. No matter what species we are, children turn us inside out.”

Dani dissolved further into tears, trying to keep quiet. Irina wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her tightly. Poor girl. While the other three females could help her out, they were shifters and none of them had kids. Irina was the only one Dani had access to who knew what she was going through. Again, Irina saw how her self-imposed isolation helped no one.

“How long have you been feeling emotional?”

Sniffles could be heard from her shoulder. “Pretty much since Dante was born,” came the muffled reply.

“My dear, it’s all normal. Everything you feel, all of it. Your life changed, you have a new home, a new job, and a new mate. All of that would be difficult enough without being a new mom, too.”

Dani sat up and gave Irina a watery smile as she pulled in a shaky breath. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. I feel like I’ve been on the verge of bawling for months.”

“It’s not a bad thing to let it out.”

“I know, but it’s hard, you know. Like, I’m weak or something.”

Irina shook her head. “Balderdash, dear. Shifter mothers are the strongest, most ferocious creatures you’ll find.” Irina reflected inward; there was deep meaning in those words. She no longer felt strong, definitely not ferocious, and she’d hidden from life ever since that fateful day.

Dani coughed to cover up her giggle. “Balderdash,” she said. “I like that one.”

Irina stood to go. “Why don’t you let me know when you find something?”

“No problem. And Irina, thank you.”

“Don’t be afraid to stop by, dear. I don’t bite. Anymore.” It was a lame joke, but their kind always thought it was funny as hell.

Dani appeared pleased at the idea. “Would it be okay if I have Dante with me? Mercury takes him when he’s around, but he and Bennett have been out in the field a lot.”

Irina peered over at the playpen and Dani’s gaze followed. The little boy was awake and had been watching them for who knows how long. Irina was struck by his looks. Where his daddy had silver reflecting through his dark features, burnished gold flashed through Dante’s milk chocolate hair and dark eyes. He quietly watched Irina and his mother, as if he sensed his mommy was distressed and needed comfort from Irina.

“Of course he’s welcome.” And Irina meant it. Actually looked forward to having the noise babies brought with them in her house again.

With that, Dante raised his chubby little arms to his mommy and soon his face was crumpling in distress.

“Time to eat. I better feed him before he cracks another monitor.”

The joys of having gifted young, although none whom Irina had known could express their natural powers outwardly at such a young age. They normally developed strength after puberty when shifting started. But Mercury was unique and as far as anyone knew, his pack had been destroyed. From what Irina heard, they hadn’t found much information yet about Mercury’s origins.

Stopping in the hallway after she closed the office door behind her, Irina stared at the floor while her mind worked her Lycabyter29 problem.

Talking with Dani and seeing little Dante, on top of the mating celebration from the other night, Irina would be damned if anything threatened those close to her again. It was time to talk to her mate.

*****

Dane floated on his back in the little waterfall-fed pond, forcing himself to relax. He had just finished a brutal run and was still restless, edgy. Like something was about to happen. Something that made shit change and that worried Dane. He hated feeling unprepared.

Dane, I need to talk to you. Irina’s mental summons interrupted his thoughts.

How long had he been waiting to hear those words? At least, the “Dane, I need you” part. The “talk” part was never good, not matter what century it was.

I’ll be there shortly. He stepped out of the water, flowed into his wolf and ran home.

The cabin was quiet like it always was when he arrived home. Like every other time, the light in her office was on, signaling where she was. He donned some shorts and padded to her door. He didn’t bother with a shirt. He was still hot from his workout and that was as good an excuse as any.

When he entered her office, she flicked those lovely blue eyes his way and he didn’t miss the millisecond they lingered on his bare chest. Maybe there was still some interest on her end. He certainly been pining for his mate for years, but eventually gave up on a pursing her physically. She couldn’t get past her scars and it had always seemed more like a chore for her to lie with him. Still, he hadn’t given up hope.

Her soft golden hair fell around her shoulders and she wore a simple sundress, yellow with daisies. His favorite. It showed off her eyes and hinted at the curves he knew were hidden underneath.

“Irina.” He didn’t know what else to say. With no spare chairs in the office, he parked his butt on the edge of her desk. Operation Win My Mate Back had officially begun.

A delicate eyebrow raised and she shot him a pointed look, but he didn’t budge. He’d danced around her for too long. She would soon find out he was going to be hard to get rid of.

“Dane, I have something I need to talk to you about, but I need to explain myself first.”

Dane crossed his arms and waited for her to continue, reveling in her soft voice. This was the most she’d said to him in at least twenty years.

Astonishment kept him from getting distracted by her appeal as she explained what she’d been doing with her life. Irina told him about her writing, how it started, and why she didn’t tell anyone. While he was insulted she didn’t at least confide in him, he knew she wrote a lot, but not for a living. He assumed it was a hobby to get keep her busy—and away from him. Often he wondered what she wrote, thought maybe she journaled, though her days weren’t full of adventures, or detailed their history through the years.

Romance? Couples beating the odds, fighting to be together…happily ever after and all that. Dare he interpret it as a sign that Irina wanted their relationship mended as much as he? Perhaps he should read her material, find a way to burrow back into heart so far that she couldn’t throw him out again.

She was correct about how the council would react. Some members would make her quit just because she was Dane’s mate and he’d gone against their orders too many times in his years as commander. On top of that, this pack had the audacity to thrive in West Creek where they were undoubtedly sent to get killed off.

“You have how much money?” Dane asked incredulously. His train of thought was quickly brought back to her words. She’d just told him that she had saved almost everything she earned, what she didn’t use for publishing costs had been socked away in investments.

Irina repeated herself and he still couldn’t believe it. “I donate some every year, but split it up to different groups so they don’t go searching for an anonymous benefactor, and the rest I saved in case the pack is ever in financial trouble.”

Always a possibility, but the pack was doing well. They’d saved, and been smart, and learned finances over the years. When Jace joined the pack, he was money savvy and secured the Guardians’ financial future even better. But Irina had them all beat.

“Off of romance novels?”

Irina pursed her lips. “I’ve worked hard for years, Dane, and I’m good at what I do. I can use my first-hand knowledge of the Old West to make it feel more realistic and give the reader a genuine experience. It’s modern cowboys who are all the rage, though, and I’ve had to update my stories.”

Dane’s mind worked over all she said. He had quit wondering what she did in her office all day. Whenever he had asked, she’d answered “writing” and no more. He chalked it up to her needing more space.

From her accounts, she’d been very productive in her writing, research, and education. He didn’t fully comprehend the work and dedication it had taken for her to build her business, but her bottom-line suggested it had been a lot. And while he should have been embarrassed he knew so little of his mate, he felt better that she spent her days in this room building an empire and not just mindlessly avoiding him.

“Why tell me now, Irina?” He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m glad you did, but why now?”

Shame shadowed her expression. She turned away from him to the monitor. He followed her gaze to make out what was on the screen.

“Son of a bitch,” was all he said.

“I’m having Dani try to trace him to find out if he’s normal crazy or Sigma crazy.”

“Good. Have you talked to Rhys?”

Irina shook her head. “I thought you’d be better at telling him.”

“He’d get better details from you.”

The dismay sketched on her tired face was too much. She just confessed so much of her life, a part he had neglected to be a part of, and it had taxed her. Surely he can start acting like her mate and speak to Rhys on her behalf.

Dane leaned down and caught Irina’s chin in his hand, his thumb stroking her bottom lip. “What happened to us?” It wasn’t the first time he’d asked that question.

The surprise from his touch quickly turned to sadness. “The fact that you don’t know, Dane, is so much of the problem.”

It was the same answer every time. Instead of acting like he always did and storming out in anger because she wouldn’t talk to him, he leaned down and dropped his lips to hers. Her soft, warm lips opened in shock. She must’ve expected him to storm out, too. Instead, he used the opening to delve inside and lick at her tongue with his own. He still had her chin in his hand, but she didn’t pull away from him.

Hesitantly, she moved her tongue against his and he deepened their kiss. Which part of her body should he put his other hand on? Should he drop to his knees in front of her, or pull her up into him, or should he—

She pulled back suddenly. “I can’t do this.” She inhaled a shaky breath and finally met his eyes.

He considered her for a second before standing up. He did it purposely so the effect she had on him could be plainly seen through his shorts. A pretty blush stained her cheeks and he was tempted to beat his chest with pride. He still had an effect on her, and he could work with that.

Before he walked out, he leaned down to speak into her ear, letting his breath tickle her sensitive skin and make her shiver. “Not now, but soon, Irina.”

Chapter Four

Not now, but soon. It still gave her the shivers every time she recalled those words. Focus, dammit. For the hundredth time Irina drifted off in the middle of writing a sentence. It was Dane’s hard chest and promise-laden voice that was pulling focus off her writing. This time, she wasn’t assaulted by memories of the passion and heat they once shared, but by the hint of the fire that could still burn between them.

Great. She found herself with another steamy scene to write. Usually she approached them clinically, analyzing how each scene would play out, and how to describe each move. Tonight she didn’t trust her mind not to replace her characters with herself and Dane. Hitting “save” and clicking out of her latest novel, she decided to check her email again.

Oh wonderful, Lycabyter29 sent her a message.

Irina went cold; Lycabyter29 upped the ante. He’d been wanting to meet her, but she hadn’t replied to his last several emails. Now, he graduated to threats and this was a doozey.

Since you haven’t agreed to meet me, who should I approach first: your council or Sigma? By the way, how is West Creek this time of year?

Oh. Shit. Going to the council would’ve been a valid threat, but they’d have to figure out who she was. She used a pen name and posted only generic information. But they could definitely figure out it was her if they were told the author resided in West Creek. The Sigma threat? Meh, they were already targeted by Sigma and her books wouldn’t give them any more information. Other than piss off any Agents who were avid readers of hers.

But ultimately, she didn’t want any trouble to rain down on the pack, and especially not because of her.

Dane, are you with Rhys?

Yes.

She relayed the email and waited through the silence. Dane must be talking with Rhys. She was immensely glad Mercury’s mate forced her hand which made her tell Dane sooner rather than later. Although she wasn’t naïve or stupid, she wasn’t qualified to deal with her mysterious blackmailer. Now her reply would be backed by the strategy of the Guardians.

Tell him you’ll meet him as long as you get to pick the time and the place.

She typed the reply nearly verbatim and hit send. Maybe two minutes passed before her inbox lit up with Lycabyter29’s reply:

I expect the details within twenty-four hours. I’m sorry for the threats, my dear, but I was afraid you would dismiss my wishes.

Asshole.

She passed the info back to Dane who said they’d plan it out tomorrow and get back to him.

Suddenly exhausted, but not yet ready for bed, Irina found herself wanting to watch television. An empty, simple show she didn’t need to use many brain cells to follow. While she could watch on her computer, she sat there for work all day. Deciding to head to the lodge and keep up her streak of interacting with people, Irina strolled out into the night.

It would’ve been nice to have the TV all to herself, but as she neared the lounge she sensed other shifters had beat her to the tube. Entering the room, two surprised young males looked up from the couch.

“Hey, Irina.” Ronnie raised his beer in greeting.

Irina smiled warmly at both males. When she first met Ronnie, he smelled human. But like his sister, Bennett’s mate Sarah, he’d been exercising his wolf and was developing a stronger shifter scent.

Parrish gave a little wave and she nodded back. Today, she’d actually downloaded a few programs to learn sign language, but if Ronnie stayed then he could help interpret.

“I’m looking for some mindless entertainment, gentlemen. What are you watching?”

“A movie where lots of shit blows up.” Ronnie took another swig while Parrish got up to get more popcorn, grabbing a bowl for her, too.

He was filling out nicely, turning into a fine young Guardian. Irina could tell he was still holding back in his training from the slouch in his shoulders, the way he reverted to curling in on himself. She didn’t doubt that Dane would get him to invest himself completely.

“Sounds perfect.” Irina folded herself into the recliner, munching on popcorn.

Sometime during the first movie’s sequel, or prequel, or whatever installment they were on, Irina must’ve drifted off.

Was that whimpering?

Her eyes floated open, but she made no sudden movements. Ronnie must’ve headed to bed, but Parrish was passed out on the couch, eyes rolling behind closed lids. Sounds of distress were coming from between clenched lips.

“It’s all right, Parrish,” Irina spoke softly, not knowing what to expect from the distraught male. “You’re safe now.”

Another whimper and Parrish twisted from side to side.

“Parrish, you’re safe now. You’re with the Guardians.”

Irina sat up, leaning forward, not moving from the recliner. The chair rocked forward with a tiny squeak. Parrish shot up from the couch, flying toward her. Irina didn’t have time to dive out of the way and with a yelp she was flung out of the chair onto the floor. On her back beneath him, she stared up into Parrish’s unseeing pale-blue eyes. His hands were wrapped around her neck, not quite strangling her, but close. Her hands gripped his wrists and a calm settled over her. The boy was strong, but so was she, and instead of using her strength to throw him off, she decided to keep trying to bring him out of the dream world.

“You. Are. A. Guardian,” she said forcefully. “You are not a victim.”

Parrish blinked rapidly, his gaze going in and out of focus. Maybe her approach was working.

The instant Irina scented her mate, Parrish was yanked off and thrown back onto the couch. Dane jumped on top of him, pinning the flailing youth down.

“Parrish!” Dane gave the male’s face a little slap, forcing Parrish to fully awaken and focus.

Parrish went still, his eyes darting from Dane and around the room until he saw Irina, sitting up on the floor. His face crumpled and a mournful cry erupted from his mouth before he clamped it shut. His eyes pleaded with Irina in apology since his arms were still pinned by Dane.

“It’s all right, Parrish, I understand.” She reassured him, rising to her feet. “Dane, I think he’s back with us now.”

Dane was still lasered in on Parrish, but Irina’s words got through to him and he eventually released the boy, eased back, and kneeled down in front of him. Parrish’s hands flew and Irina cursed herself again that she had no idea what he was saying.

When the flurry stopped, she waited for Dane to fill her in. Instead he just turned to her. “Are you okay?” When she nodded, he stood and held a hand out to Parrish. “I’ll take him to his room and talk to him. Why don’t you head back to the cabin, get some rest?”

Shock floored Irina. All she got was “are you okay?” Yes, she was, but she was his mate and she had been attacked. And then she was dismissed? Clueless fucking male.

“Of course, Master Bellamy,” she said curtly. Irina spun on her heel and stalked out of the room.

What’d I do? Dane had no idea why Irina was irritated with him. He had pulled a crazed young Guardian off her, and she was angry with him. She’d handled herself beautifully against a distraught kid who was lost in a dream world. Now he wanted her safe at the cabin so he could tend to Parrish.

Resting a hand on Parrish’s shoulder, he shuffled to the boy’s room with him. Before they even sat down on the bed, Parrish was already moving his hands.

She has my mother.

Fuck. No wonder the kid was messed up. He was rescued from Madame G while his mother still suffered.

But my mom, she— Parrish dropped his head into his hands and scrubbed his face, deciding if he should keep going. She doesn’t tell Madame G the complete truth.

The fear and trepidation Parrish gave Dane was humbling. The kid was afraid he was snitching on his own mother, whether it was by telling the Guardians she was responsible for the inside information Sigma had or by risking his mother’s safety by telling them she was misleading Madame G.

Dane squeezed Parrish’s shoulder. “We’ll protect your mother’s secret.”

Parrish’s grateful sigh and hanging head didn’t slow him down long before he signed again. Madame G suspected my mother wasn’t giving her accurate information so she…she’d try to get the visions out of me. But it doesn’t work like that. Seers don’t duplicate visions.

Interesting. So little was known about seers. The council probably had some squirreled away, but otherwise Dane had never come across any.

“Tell me what happened. From the beginning.” Dane hoped Parrish was ready to talk.

We lived up north, in the same area as the council. About fifteen years ago, my mom started getting visions of change sweeping our species. And not just our species, but vampires as well. It bothered the council, but they encouraged her to just keep presenting them with the information she was given.

Change. It made people do stupid things. Dane could see change happening within their species and the council should’ve, too. Shifters and humans had been mating for years. It wasn’t a stretch to think that shifters and vampires would begin to mate. Or at least mate openly without fear of repercussions from either governing body. The younger generations didn’t want to live among war and conflict. When technology improved in synch with the “keep calm and smoke weed” era, both species found they wanted to be free in how they lived and loved.

My family was sent to this area since Mom’s visions centered around West Creek and Freemont. The council thought it would help define her premonitions.

“But you were captured?”

Parrish bobbed his head, swallowing hard and fighting tears. My dad was killed in the attack. Madame G allowed me to be with my mother until she could use me against her.

Meaning the kid’s mom could hold Parrish and console herself with the need to protect her young, not allowing the devastation of losing a mate destroy her. And once her visions returned, then Madame G could use Parrish to force his mother’s compliance.

“You were raised in their compound since you were two?” Dane couldn’t believe the kid still had a sane bone in his body.

It wasn’t bad until the last few years, just really lonely. Mom fed Madame G enough of her visions to keep her satisfied. Until they couldn’t find Sarah and kill her.

“Does your mom know why they wanted Sarah dead?”

Bennett’s mate had been targeted by Madame G much of her life. When Sarah moved to West Creek to live in isolation, Sigma still found her and if she hadn’t met Bennett first, they very likely would have succeeded in killing her. Even after faking her death and changing her identity, Sarah still had to live in isolation, never venturing into town or talking with her parents.

It hadn’t made any sense to the Guardians that Madame G wanted Sarah dead because she was a hybrid. Her brother had the same blood flowing through his veins, yet he wasn’t targeted. In fact, the brother and sister were half human, they weren’t true shifter-vampire hybrids. Madame G preferred to study and play with her prey, but Sarah she wanted killed outright.

While Dane was musing, he noticed Parrish fidgeting, his agitation growing.

“Whatever you tell us, Parrish, we will protect you and try to help your mother.”

The boy calmed down. Mom doesn’t give Madame G full details, or she alters them. Like many premonitions, the future can be changed based on the actions of those involved. In Sarah’s case, she wasn’t the hybrid my mom dreamed about, but a way to distract Madame G from the true hybrid.

Collateral damage, essentially. “Why was sacrificing Sarah’s life better than leading Madame G to the true hybrid? And is the true hybrid Sarah’s aunt, Agent X?”

Rhys’ face, when Dane found him after that little fact was discovered…the male had been completely still, but his face…Dane still didn’t know what emotion to use to describe what Rhys had been feeling. The male and the formidable Agent had a short history, but it was peppered with conflict. Dane suspected why neither Rhys nor Agent X were ever killed in their confrontations, and he couldn’t imagine what his fellow Guardian must be going through now.

Mom doesn’t want anyone hurt, Parrish rushed on, defending his mother. We tried to direct Sarah to Bennett and this pack so she could be protected.

“How?” Dane cut in.

Hesitantly, Parrish signed, We could talk to Ronnie.

“You’re the voices in Ronnie’s head?” Dane asked incredulously. The boys were close; how did Parrish hide that fact from Ronnie?

For a while, but Madame G damaged much of my ability to speak mentally when she suspected my mother and I were teaming up against her.

“Okay, all of this was done to keep Madame G from finding out Agent X is the hybrid they’re looking for. Why?”

The hybrid is destined to complete a task, one that will set off a string of events that will herald much change for the shifter and vampire communities.

“What is the task?”

To destroy Madame G.

Chapter Five

It was the dead of night when pounding on the front door woke Irina. She knew immediately when she awoke that Dane wasn’t home yet. After Parrish’s revelations the other night, Dane and Rhys had been in intense discussion. They had headed deep into the woods to talk with the protection of nature surrounding them.

Reaching the door, Irina knew who was on her step before she opened it. “Dani? Is everything all right?”

The woman’s chocolate brown eyes were alight with worry, and she held a blanketed Dante in her arms. “I’m sorry, Irina. Dante hasn’t been feeling well for a couple days and now he’s spiked a high fever. Doc Garreth was helping us, but said if his temp ever got over one hundred and three, we need to take him in. It’s one hundred and four and the medicine isn’t helping, and he’s just so lethargic.” Dani rushed out the explanation, rocking the baby in her arms. The panicked mother was going to bolt into town any moment.

She obviously came for help, and while Irina was more than willing to assist Dani and her young, she couldn’t imagine what she would be good for other than calming the young, new mom down.

“Mercury’s still out of town on a mission and so is Bennett. Everyone’s gone and I can’t risk going into town alone, especially not with Dante. We might be spotted by Sigma Agents or recruits. I didn’t ask Doc Garreth; he hasn’t gone to town since he came here. You can fight, right?”

Irina raised her eyebrows, impressed yet again at the choice Mercury made in a mate. Most shifters saw her as a Guardian’s gentle mate who wore sundresses and maintained a quiet demeanor. If they knew her tragic loss, then they assumed she was a broken mess coasting through the rest of her long life. That part might be accurate, but the rest…not so much.

Irina had fought and trained alongside her husband for centuries, and just because she never went on missions, or took to field work, did not mean she was defenseless. Far from it and Dani just reminded her of that.

Irina stepped out, closing the door behind her. “You drive.”

*****

Dane sat in the passenger seat while Rhys drove, crushing his own right foot into the floorboards, willing the SUV to go faster. Rhys maneuvered through the empty streets, aiming for the Freemont Hospital where Irina and Dani had taken Dante.

When Irina announced she was going to town with Dani to take the baby to the hospital, Dane didn’t think much of it. Irina had been a mother herself, albeit for a short amount of time. Her presence would comfort Dani, while Irina eased back into their world. He and Rhys returned to the lodge, planning to go to town to meet up with the females, just in case.

Parrish had met them at the door to the garages, signing furiously. Get to them, before they do.

Not taking time to question the boy on who “they” were, the two males left Parrish standing in the red glow of their taillights as they flew down the road. Dane reached out to warn Irina mentally, but she informed him they had already left the hospital and were heading into West Creek. Dane and Rhys rushed to meet them before they met up with any trouble.

Dane, they found us! They shot the tires and have us surrounded.

Through Irina’s mental connection, he could see both her and Dani with handguns firing out their car windows.

How many?

At least five, mostly recruits. They’re getting closer.

We’re almost there.

Shit. The bars had closed and a group of recruits probably spotted the car as they drove by, recognizing the vehicle as the type Guardians used, maybe even recognizing Dani from her days as a recruit.

“I sent a message to Mercury. They were on their way back already, so he’ll get to the lodge as soon as possible.” Rhys’ knuckles were white on the wheel from gripping it tight.

Fear rode Dane hard as he watched the buildings fly by. They were almost there, he just hoped they made it in time. If anything happened to the females or the baby, it would be devastating for the entire pack.

Gunshots popped nearby, they were close. Stupid recruits. Even in this neighborhood, gunfire would draw the police. Not that quickly, but they’d still make an appearance.

Rhys screeched to a stop and they both hopped out, shedding their clothes. In this industrial section of town, there were no residential witnesses to watch some wolves rip apart more than a few humans.

Dane shifted and sensed Rhys shifting behind him. They both took off, stalking the recruits who were targeting their loved ones. Rhys veered off to the left around to the car that blocked the front of Dani’s sedan, while Dane went for the recruits in the vehicle behind them.

One recruit snuck up alongside the sedan. Irina was leaning out the window, firing over the hood of the car. Dane barked a warning. The recruit lunged to grab her arm. She twisted, using her free hand to yank him close and whack his head against the car frame. With her shifter strength, she secured him by his throat with her arm and jerked. His neck snapped and the body dropped.

The two recruits Dane was stalking were distracted by the sudden fall of their compadre. He used the distraction to jump on one’s back to take him down to the concrete, knocking the weapon out of his hand. Dane turned to the other recruit before he could level his gun and shoot.

Dane almost didn’t make it in time, but Irina had recovered enough to take her aim at the standing recruit. Her shot hit the man in the shoulder a millisecond before Dane latched onto his neck. His teeth sunk into the recruit’s skin until warm, acrid blood filled his mouth. The recruit fell limp with a sickly gurgle. Dane didn’t worry about the other recruit he knocked down, trusting Irina to cover him.

He had switched to concentrating on the recruits attacking from the front, covering Rhys as he swiftly dispatched the threat. When silence fell, and none of the shifters could sense any remaining recruits, Irina climbed out of the car while Dani whipped around in her seat to check on Dante.

“Ohmigod,” she said, “he slept through the whole thing. Should I be worried?”

“No, dear.” Irina calmed her through the open window. “Babies can sleep through a marching band, but wake up to a mouse sneezing. As long as you don’t see any injuries, just let him rest. The hospital visit just tuckered the little guy out.”

Dane flowed back into his human form, seeing Rhys had already changed back and was loading bodies into the trunk of the first car. Dane followed suit, with Dani and Irina joining in. They made quick work of the clean-up and were able to take off just as they heard the wail of sirens in the distance.

Rhys drove one of the recruits’ cars since they couldn’t fit all the bodies into one trunk. Dane drove the SUV, and they bracketed Dani and Irina in their car. The recruits’ other car could be answered for by Sigma if the police were able to trace it.

They made rapid progress back to the lodge without further incident. Dane’s gaze pressed to the road, he exuded calmness, but his insides were in turmoil. He and Irina had worked seamlessly together, just like old times. It should be exhilarating, but all he dwelled on was what would’ve happened if he’d lost her. How devastated Mercury would be if something horrible occurred to Dani or Dante. How the whole pack would’ve suffered. All those protective instincts, to keep Irina safe and destroy anything that threatened her, no matter the cost, welled up.

As they drove up, Mercury paced outside the front door of the lodge, his expression pensive. By the time Dani pulled to a stop, he was pulling the driver’s door open, his features filled with immense relief as he helped her out and pulled her into a hard embrace, before reaching in to unbuckle a sleeping Dante and hold him close. He looked up to Irina, the silver in his eyes had stopped swirling.

“Thank you, Irina.” His voice cracked. “I can’t thank you enough.”

With a reassuring smile, Irina came around and put a hand on his shoulder. “We take care of our own, wildling.”

Mercury sought out the commander. “I’m taking them to the cabin.” He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t wait for Rhys to give him permission, but turned away with his mate and child, leaving cleanup to the rest of them.

Bennett was already hopping in the recruits’ vehicle. He’d go to the fire pit and unload the remains before taking the car out and dumping it, probably on Sigma property. He was notorious for leaving notes like: Black car: $10,000; Five recruits: $8,000; Burning your POS car and recruits: Priceless.

Irina was heading back to their cabin, while Dane couldn’t help but watch Mercury walk away with his family.

Rhys came up next to him, not saying a word. The male hadn’t felt the need to exert his authority over Mercury because to Rhys, they did this job to keep shifter families safe. Family came first, then the pack, then duty.

Dane had been a completely clueless asshole. Watching the Santini family walk away holding each other, Dane couldn’t believe how stupid he had been. All this time, he’d been ridden by duty, determined to keep his pack and family safe. Instead, he’d left Irina at the most vulnerable time in her life. Hell, in both their lives.

He should’ve stayed, cared for her, waited until she recovered, before he sought his revenge. She’d have probably even gone with him. Instead, he let the guilt he felt for failing his family, leaving them vulnerable, spur him into immediate action. He had felt the best thing he could do for Irina at the time was to hunt down every perpetrator and wipe them off the face of the earth. But he should have stayed by her side, mourning with her, easing her pain…being a mate.

Even the previous night, he’d left her on her own to deal with Parrish’s attack, foolishly thinking that just because she was physically okay, she didn’t need any extra attention from him.

“Rhys, I need to be with Irina.” And following Mercury’s lead, he left without waiting for permission.

*****

Irina had almost reached the cabin when she heard Dane approaching her from behind. She turned to face him, worry creasing her forehead. “What’s wrong?”

He stopped in place about twenty feet from her, only wearing his black t-shirt and sweats, not bothering with shoes after changing back to a human so he could drive. “I’ve been a horrible mate, Irina.”

“Oh?” His confession had robbed Irina of words.

“I wasn’t there for you. I get that now.” He gestured in the direction of Mercury’s cabin. “It took a male who wasn’t even raised by our kind, and has barely been mated over a year, to show me how blind I’ve been.”

Ah. Irina never thought this day would come. Dane had been all duty and honor ever since she’d met him as a young Guardian pack leader. It hadn’t bothered her, until that day. Then every day after, her anger toward him ate away at her deep love for him.

Truth be told, she wasn’t blameless, either, wrapped up in her anger and despair. He’d tried to get her to open up, tried to help, but she’d kept him locked out. “We’ve both been blind to our faults,” she finally admitted.

Dane’s mouth drew up in a sad smile. “I’m afraid I win the award, though. You know, not too long ago I told Bennett that I thought we lived so long because it takes us longer to get our heads out of our asses.” He offered her a sheepish smile, his eyes shining with emotion. “I proved that theory right.”

“We both did, Dane.” Irina ruefully shook her head, and sighed. “All those years…wasted.”

“I understand why you didn’t tell me about your writing, or the extent of your success. You’re absolutely correct about what I would’ve done.”

“I know and that’s okay.” Irina’s shoulders slumped. “Turns out, it’s done exactly what the council would’ve feared it would do. Brought danger to our door.”

Dane closed the distance between them, rubbing her upper arms, his warm hands feeling so good on her bare skin. “We’ll get him, Irina. And save your career while we do it.”

She looked up into his eyes, the green hue deepened, a sign he was aroused. Her breath quickened as she became aware of how much desire had built within her.

“You were amazing tonight, mate. I haven’t seen you fight in forever.” He sounded wistful, like he missed witnessing her in battle.

“Well, I’ll have to remedy that then.” She purred, embarrassing herself at the provocative sound that came out.

“We have unfinished business from the other night.” Dane’s own voice deepened a few octaves, making Irina shiver.

“We do,” she agreed breathlessly.

Dane picked her up, swinging her into his arms and strode toward their cabin. “I’ve got to tell you, I may come just taking my pants off, it’s been so long.”

Irina’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean you haven’t…?” She stopped, afraid to finish the rest.

Dane wore a quizzical frown. “Haven’t what? Stepped out on you? Just for physical satisfaction?” He shook his head in disbelief. “I’ve royally fucked up if you think I could turn to someone other than you.”

“I did wonder, I’m sorry. You’re still a virile shifter male after all.” Now she felt awful for doubting her mate.

“Why do you think I swim so much? I didn’t plan what you saw me do on those rocks just to tease you. It’s a daily occurrence. Sometimes three times a day. Memories of how hot we used to be have kept me going.”

He’d known she was there that day watching him, the naughty male.

Once they got into the cabin, she twined her arms around his neck and murmured against his mouth. “I guess we’ll have to make new memories.”

Grabbing her butt and pulling her close, his erection pressed against her belly. She reveled in the luxury of his mouth on hers. It had been just as long for her and she might just join him in climax before clothing removal.

His taste…her tongue danced with his and it was so much better than memories. He was heat, and desire, and she couldn’t get enough.

Dane growled, the sound reverberating through his body. His hands bunched her sundress up, lifting to remove it. They broke their kiss as the dress went over her head and he drank in the sight of her.

Self-consciousness rose, she wanted to cover her abdomen from his perusal.

“Don’t even think about it.” He nearly snarled. “You’re gorgeous and those scars are only a sign of how strong you are. A memorial to our family.” When sorrow threatened to invade her desire, her mate put a stop to it. “And I’m going to lick every last one.”

Yeeessss. Dane dropped his knees, laying gentle kisses along her stomach until he reached one scar, then true to his word, he sensually licked every last raised silver slash on her belly. Unsure what he would do when he was done, Irina was insanely pleased when he continued to lick his way down, separating her folds until he found her center.

Gasping at the first firm swipe of his tongue, she knew it wouldn’t take long for her to reach her finish. Dane knew it too and lapped at her ruthlessly until she clutched his shoulders, one leg slung around his back, gasping and crying his name while she shuddered her release.

He stood, readying to strip himself down when she stopped him. “My turn.”

His jaw worked as if wanted to argue, impatient to have his way with her, but she’d waited just as long as he had for them to rekindle their romance.

Lifting his shirt off, she ran her hands down his solid chest and chiseled abs. She’d always loved her male’s body. So strong, so capable, and the pleasure he could give…

Stretching the waistband of his pants past his erection, she slid them down his legs, dropping to her knees.

“Sweet Mother, Irina,” Dane exhaled, “you don’t know how long I’ve fantasized about this.”

“As long as I have, my love.” Irina swirled her tongue around the tip of Dane’s shaft; it jerked under her fingers. She licked down the entire length and back up again before enclosing her mouth around his width.

Groaning, he gave a short thrust into her mouth, tunneling his fingers through her hair. “I’m not going to last much longer,” he warned her.

I’m ready for you. Irina opened her mind up to the pleasure still thrumming through her body.

Dane went rigid, his release made its way up his shaft, emptying into her mouth as Dane hissed her name in ecstasy.

Swallowing every last drop of her mate, she peered up at him through her lashes and licked her lips.

“Fuck, Irina. We need to do this more often.” Helping her up, he picked her up again to head to one of the bedrooms. He chose hers based on proximity and dropped her on the bed, landing on top of her.

She wrapped her legs around him, hugging him closely. They crashed their mouths together as he placed himself at her entrance; she rose to meet him as he thrust forward. The fullness shocked her and Dane stilled, allowing her to adjust to his girth.

“How about at least two or three times a day?” she asked coyly.

He smiled down at her and she rocked her hips. They settled into an easy rhythm, enjoying each other, letting the impending explosion build naturally as they savored being reunited.

Soon she began to move faster, so he thrust harder and buried his head in her shoulder.

Oh yes, please. Willing him to bite her, she drew her knees up higher, granting him deeper penetration. It was like he read her mind. Just as she was about to peak, he opened his jaw and clamped down.

Shouting his name, touching his bliss through their connection, she echoed his cry as he combusted within her.

When they drifted back down to reality, he was still half hard inside of her. When she undulated her hips, he cocked an eyebrow at her.

She nipped at his lips. “It’s my turn to bite you.”

Chapter Six

“Don’t be nervous.”

“I’m not nervous.” Irina adjusted her clothing and faced her mate. “It’s just that these are the first pair of pants I’ve ever worn.”

“Want me to help you out of them?” Dane’s husky tone implied he wasn’t teasing.

She swatted his arm away from her pants’ clasp before she couldn’t resist him. “We’ll be late.”

Dane sobered. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

“Yes, we’ve been over this. Do you doubt me?” Irina meant to tease him, but her own doubts were creeping in.

“Of course not. You’re ferocious, but this is something new, facing your stalker, trying to play him. I want to make sure you’re comfortable with every contingency plan we talked about.”

Irina went to the mirror and twisted her fair hair up into a bun, sticking two painted mini chopsticks in to hold it in place. Taking in her appearance, she pondered how she had never looked so modern.

They called in their resident personal shopper, Kaitlyn, who was more than willing to help update Irina’s wardrobe. There Irina stood, in a one-shouldered turquoise top and cropped jeans, with strappy sandals. She would look, for all the world, like a woman out enjoying the beautiful late summer weather by grabbing a cup of coffee and people watching.

“We can’t plan everything. I’m ready, Dane. This male will not be allowed to tamper with my life.”

Walking hand in hand down to the garage, Dane picked a car and they got in.

“You know, I’m going to need to learn how to drive someday.” Irina had never before had a reason to get behind the wheel.

“We’ll start today.”

Dane explained everything he was doing as they headed to town. She listened with rapt interest, grateful for the distraction so worry wouldn’t churn in her gut the entire drive.

Parking blocks from where they needed to be, Dane gave her a small kiss. He couldn’t go with her or he’d be sensed if her cyber-stalker was indeed a vampire.

“The sun will be down in an hour. Keep your mind open.” Her longtime connection to Dane gave them the ability to not just speak to each other, but pass images like they did when she and Dani were attacked. It was as intimate as intercourse.

Strolling through West Creek’s city center, Irina gave herself a few moments of enjoyment. How times had changed. Shifters could wander among humans, blend in and enjoy the same creature comforts as the dominant beings on the planet. Someday, Irina predicted, they wouldn’t have to hide, and they could mingle together as equals.

But that day was not today, and the male who threatened her anonymity needed to be stopped.

Irina sipped her tea at a small table on the patio of a quaint café. The pleasant ambiance encouraged relaxation and a sense of camaraderie with her fellow patrons. Chatter from the diner’s faded in her ears as she studied the humans ambling by. Every so often a shifter would drift down the sidewalk. Their eyes would meet, each would deliver a slight nod, and then go about their business. Fascinating.

“Belle,” a masculine voice said from behind her.

Startled and ashamed she let herself get caught off guard, she made sure not to turn too quickly and give away that information to her pursuer. Belle was her current pen name. She always used some part of her or her mate’s name in her pen names. She knew she shouldn’t, but couldn’t help it: Nina Lamey, Dana Wolf, Belle Ami.

“I’m at a disadvantage,” she said, peering up at the vampire male she assumed was Lycabyter29. “Your name is?”

The male with shiny black hair and deep merlot-colored eyes, regarded her intently. “I’m surprised you don’t remember me. But I guess I was a child at the time.”

Turning more fully in her seat, inspecting him closer, there was nothing about him she could recall. It wasn’t like she had met many vampires in her lifetime. Well, not many who lived after her encounter with them.

“I’m sorry. We’ve met?”

The male slid out a chair next to her and sat uncomfortably close. “As I said, I was a child. It was your early books, the descriptions of the Wild West that first caught my attention. So accurate, so vivid. Like you’d lived them.” He pinned her with his avid gaze.

Resisting the urge to squirm in the chair, she made sure to keep her mind open so Dane could follow everything that was going on. “Oh?”

“My name is Silas. Ring any bells, Belle?” His lips turned up at the little play on words he must’ve thought was charming.

Silas, Silas. Running the name over and over in her mind, she struggled to recall hearing that name around vampires. “Why don’t you tell me your story?” she implored, not wanting to anger him by her lack of memory when he seemed to think he should hold a special place in her heart.

Answering her with a quick grin, he leaned forward as if he wanted to reach for her hand. So she kept both hands firmly wrapped around her tea cup.

“My family was attacked by feral Guardians.” He spat out the last word. “Your mate,” his hands clenched in a fist, the knuckles turning white, “and his fellow bandits went after my parents and my older brother. Ran them down like the senseless butchers they are.”

Holy shit. Dane’s voice echoed through her mind.

Holy shit was right. Memories of that night came crashing back and with increasing dread, she feared she knew exactly who Silas really was.

“But you,” he focused on her again, the fervor in his eyes scaring her, “you saved me.”

She had. Dammit she had. And if he was as psychotic as his father, how many innocent lives were taken because of her moment of weakness?

No, she wouldn’t regret her decision. She had urged Dane to spare the boy and his mother, both had been at the mercy of the father and brother who had raped and pillaged small clans in order to keep their family strong with shifter blood. When Irina had sensed a youngster being hidden in his mother’s skirts as she cowered in the corner, she begged Dane off from meting out the same justice to them.

Now she remembered the name. The mother had been trying to keep the small vampire calm. Shh, Silas. Mommy’s here, shh.

“And here you are.” No emotion tainted Irina’s tone. “How’s your mother?”

Silas’ face turned to stone, a hint of darkness invaded his gaze. “Dead.” His tone was flat, final.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He was probably the one who killed her. Irina suspected the poor female became just as much of a victim of Silas as she was of his father and brother.

Silas rolled one muscled shoulder in a shrug. “Alas, we cannot live forever. Only the strong survive.”

Time to get to the point. “How did you know who I was, and why meet?”

His merlot eyes warmed as he took her in. “I searched for you for so long.”

Again she got the feeling he wanted to clasp her hand. She made sure she held onto something as far away from him as possible.

“That night you saved us, I felt our connection,” he continued. “I was too young to realize what it meant, but when I found the books Mother liked to read and realized it was you, I knew it was destiny. You are my true mate.”

Her only facial quirk was a slight raise of her eyebrows in response to his claim. Are you getting this bullshit? Irina asked Dane.

Delusional.

That’s not all. Insane, Silas was insane.

“How did you know I was the author?” Irina had a sinking feeling. She didn’t remember everything she wrote, but bits of her life always snuck into the story. Never details, but the descriptions in her historicals were spot on. Many scenes formed from her own experiences.

“Your description of life back then was so detailed, so accurate. I suspected you were one of us when I read that alone. Do you remember Tame the West?” When she nodded, he grinned, immensely satisfied. “The scene you wrote about me. Remember that?”

She vaguely recalled the book. It was many years and many books ago, she couldn’t remember the specific scene.

“You saved the little boy and his mother from the corrupt sheriff.”

Awareness dawned on her. Yes, now she remembered that scene and it was hardly original. Outlaw with a heart of gold rides into town looking for a fresh start; corrupt sheriff is after the girl; girl likes outlaw; outlaw saves girl from corrupt sheriff. The same tropes were portrayed in countless movies and books. “You thought that scene was about you?”

Silas was taken aback. “Of course. It was written by someone who lived in that time period and described exactly what happened to me.”

This was going to end ugly, there was no way around it. “Silas, I’m afraid you’re mistaken. It was just a book, nothing more. I have a mate.”

His face clouded over. “Your mate is the corrupt sheriff. We both know it.”

“My mate was well within the confines of our species’ law. Mine and yours. Your father and brother were murderers and rapists who had to be stopped.”

“They were heroes!” Silas shouted, banging his fist on the table, drawing unwanted attention.

Irina peered down into her tea cup, trying to remain as unidentifiable as possible. Maybe the other patrons in the coffee shop would think they were a couple having an argument. She was centuries older than he was but only looked about five years older, if that.

Draw him away from there, down the street toward the businesses that are closed already.

“Perhaps, we should talk elsewhere.”

He studied her for a moment, his jaw muscles flexing. “Yes, lets.”

Rising with vampire grace, he held out his hand to help her up. She ignored it, not intending to encourage the male’s delusions. True mate, my ass, she mentally huffed. He didn’t know the meaning of the term.

Exiting the patio of the coffee shop, she turned to head down the now abandoned block hoping to find an alley to duck into so they would have zero witnesses. Silas walked next to her, and she kept her mind open so Dane would know where they were heading.

They were reaching a spot fit for the upcoming confrontation, one that would most likely end with Silas being dusted, when he suddenly grabbed her upper arm. He was just as fast as her but stronger, and before she could call for Dane, Silas flashed her away.

Chapter Seven

“Where is she?” raged Dane.

Mercury, tell Dani we need details on a Silas Montague. He’s using his real first name, maybe different last. We need an address ASAP.

Got it, boss.

Dane paced the street where he’d been waiting to get the jump on that crazy bastard. The Montague vampires had been terrors to shifter clans, whispered about in fearful tones like the boogey-man. They’d had no pattern, no mercy, and left almost no survivors. They’d attack a house and decimate the entire family. Even the vampires’ own council had a kill order out on them when Dane’s pack found their trail and put a stop to their rampage.

Back then, Irina hardly ever went out on missions with the Guardians, but that night, she’d been with them because they had been in between station posts. The Guardians didn’t find them in time to save the family the Montagues attacked, but they’d still been able to kill the pillaging vampires. Then Irina heard the mother hiding with the boy, and Silas’ memory was incorrect beyond that point. None of the Guardians planned to kill a mother with her young, but they would’ve taken her to the Lycan Council and well, that was the same thing.

So, yes, Irina did save them in a way, but she sure as hell wasn’t that male’s true mate. Growls rumbled through Dane, almost turning into a roar. If that filthy fanger tried to mate with Irina, Dane would rip him limb from limb, if Irina didn’t beat him to it.

“She got anything yet?” Dane asked curtly, lashing out at Rhys.

“Dani’s good, give her a few minutes,” Rhys replied calmly.

Of course Dani was good, and of course she needed time, but the more time she needed was more time Irina had to spend as Silas’ prisoner. He could’ve flashed her anywhere, but they knew it had to be in town. Strong vampires could flash all over the world, but not while transporting another body, only extremely powerful vampires could do that. Still, he could’ve flashed to a car, then headed out of town.

Dammit, they needed to find him! Irina hadn’t been in contact with Dane since they flashed and he was worried she’d been knocked out.

“All right, Mercury gave me the address.” Rhys got in the driver’s seat. “Let’s go.”

“Where is it?”

Rhys gave him a droll look. Of course Rhys wouldn’t tell a distraught male his mate’s kidnapper’s address lest he rush off without the proper backup.

“Fine.” Dane growled and got in the car.

*****

“You ripped my finger off!” Silas screamed at her, his mouth dripping blood from her solid punch.

She forced a calm façade so the bloodsucker wouldn’t be tempted by a rapid heartbeat. “Don’t ever touch me without permission.” Glowering through the bars at her captor, she tried not to be absolutely creeped out by the fact he had a prison cell waiting for her in his basement. “Is this how you treat your guests?”

“No, it’s where my mother stayed until she expired.” He snapped back at her, bloody spittle flying.

That poor woman. When insanity had a vampire or shifter in its clutches, it wasn’t just them who suffered, but the whole family. Especially if it was hereditary.

“Did you kill your mother, Silas?” Irina inquired softly.

“No, I tried to keep her from killing herself, so I put her in this cage.” He paced outside of her cell, holding his injured hand under his armpit. “Once she succeeded, though, I was free to find you, Belle.” He stopped to confront her. “Is that your real name?”

She faced him impassively. There was no point in lying, he would smell it on her. “Close enough.”

He walked up to the bars, his face centered between two. “Before long you will give me your real name; you will beg for my touch. It’s meant to be. We’re meant to be.”

She continued to face him silently. He finally turned away, heading down a hallway.

“I need blood to regrow my finger,” he said bitterly. “I’ll be right back.”

When he disappeared from sight, she heard a door open. Her senses bombarded her without the vampire’s distraction.

Sweet Mother. She smelled human female, heard the crying. This wasn’t his only cage. Dane!

Irina! Are you okay? Do you know where you’re at?

I think I’m in his home. The basement has a cage in the living area, but there’s at least one human female being held for his blood meals. At the least for blood meals, anyway. If he took after his dad, the woman was living a nightmare.

She heard him tell Rhys they might need Jace and Cassie for cleanup.

We’re on our way, describe everything you can see or feel.

Irina quickly took in the seventies décor, dank basement smells, and small windows, and passed it all on to Dane, along with the location of each window and door she could see. Then she opened her senses to try to get a feel for what was outside.

Do you think you have the right place? Irina began to mentally prepare herself in case she was left to deal with Silas alone.

Yes, Dani found the house under the mom’s name with Silas as the co-signer. It’s got to be the same tiny ranch house we’re trying to find.

Irina closed her eyes as she heard the woman’s whimpers get stronger as the vampire fed off her. When Silas had flashed her here, the abruptness of the transport caught her off guard. He used the opportunity to shove her in the cell, but tried to join her and grope under her clothes. She had twisted his finger off and shoved him out of the cell while he howled in pain. He got the door closed and locked before she could follow and attack him.

He doesn’t seem well-versed on shifters, seems to forget I’m stronger and faster than his human prey.

Not a surprise if his mother had been nothing more than a breed mare. I doubt she went back to her own people after we killed her husband.

Most likely they had lived in isolation, using the paranormal underground to get fake documents and blend into society.

Irina heard a door slam and Silas mutter, “Filthy humans.” When he appeared, she could see the stub of his finger was no longer ripped and torn. Within the next few hours, he’d have a nice new pink digit.

Oh shit. Feedings affected vampires and she scented his arousal, took in the red shining irises, and realized he hadn’t completely sated himself with the human.

“You’re mine.” He snarled, baring his bloodied fangs.

Irina gasped and jumped back as Silas slammed into the bars. She hadn’t expected him to try for her body so soon, but that was going to be the last time he caught her off guard.

“I will never be yours.” Irina fisted her hands at her sides, dropping into a fighting crouch.

His red eyes glowed. “We’ll see about that.”

Unlocking the cell door, he stalked in toward her. Irina tensed to dart around him, but he was just as fast as she was and, this time, he expected her attack. Where she bested him in technique, he made up for in strength.

Throwing kicks and hits, she landed as many as he blocked, but the towering male wasn’t as affected by the blows as she bargained for. Instead, his feeding had stoked his arousal to a level where the fighting turned him on even more. Her pain from punches to her side, in her gut, fueled his fervor.

Silas managed to wrestle her to the floor. Irina ignored the wave of nausea at his body on top of hers. She flailed, nailing his flanks and punching his throat, yet he managed to get one of her hands clasped above her head. Desperately, she grasped one of her decorative hair chopsticks. Before he could catch that hand, she pierced him with it in the carotid.

He roared in outrage, throwing his head back, as warm blood pumped from his wound. She searched for the other chopstick, hoping to get it through his chest wall and strike the heart, but he recovered too fast, pinning both her hands above her head.

Switching to knees and feet, she fought in vain to free herself, but he pressed his weight down to immobilize her. His black hair hung down on her face, blood dripping on her neck and chest.

He unfastened his pants, Irina was beyond grateful to have picked today as her first day not to wear a dress. He fumbled with her pants, she bucked, kicked out to make the effort more difficult, using her desperation for power. She would die fighting before he violated her. His body jerked at the same time as she scented her pack. Relief poured through her weakened muscles. Help had arrived. Rhys and Dane raced down the stairs, both firing at Silas with deadly accuracy.

Heaving him off her, she rolled out of the way as Dane jumped through the doorway and tackled the enraged vampire.

Rhys helped her up and out of the cage before he pulled a short stake from his waistband and dived in to help Dane.

Irina stole a glance down the hall. Should she check on the human woman? Grunts and scrapes in the cage demanded her attention.

“You murdered my family,” Silas shouted, his red gaze boring into Dane.

Dane reared up, his arm raised, gripping his own stake. It all happened in slow motion. Silas sat up and lunged for Dane’s throat. Dane and Rhys struck him down at the same time. Pointed stakes punctured the vampire’s chest. Silas’ face crumpled with the inevitable, his gaze landing on Irina.

She glared in returned.

“Irina,” Silas beseeched, “I’m sorry I failed you.”

“My mate didn’t fail me.” She eyed Dane so Silas knew who she meant.

Both shifter males jumped back as Silas’ body arched and sparked before exploding in a cloud of dust.

She barely had time to take her eyes off the dust cloud when Dane had her wrapped up in his embrace. Burying her face in his neck, she hugged him back hard.

“Are you all right?” His words were muffled, his face still buried in her hair.

“Just a bruised ego, if anything,” she muttered into his neck. It could have been so much worse. What if Dane and Rhys hadn’t been there when she was taken? Parrish’s warning stuck in her head. Don’t go alone.

“I’d take you home now, but Rhys drove. It doesn’t mean I’m going to let you go, though.”

She chuckled, grateful to have her partner back.

“Jace and Cassie will be here soon. We’ll take care of the human so you two can head back.” Rhys tossed the keys to Dane. “I’ll catch a ride with them.”

Between Jace’s power of persuasion and Cassie’s profession in psychiatry, they’d be able to help the woman and keep their species’ secret.

“There’s been others.” The lingering smell of terror was overpowering. It should’ve been immediately obvious to Irina, the smells were almost suffocating, but she’d been concentrating so hard on surviving Silas. Did he bother to bury the bodies? Or did he dump them in shallow graves?

Rhys nodded grimly. “We’ll help her and leave the rest for the vampires to clean up.”

Dane hugged Irina in tighter and led her out of the house. “Come, Irina. I’ve missed many years caring for you. I shall squirrel you away to the waterfall. Perhaps you remember it’s not just for bathing?”

Her breath caught and desire bloomed remembering what she’d observed there before. Oh yes, many years to catch up on, starting tonight.

Epilogue

“Irina hasn’t told me anything about this.” Rhys faced one of the twins of his pack in the monitor. He’d sent Malcolm and his brother Harrison up north to find out about any corruption after one of their pack was killed trying to kill Dani because she was a human mate. They’d been gone for over a year leading Rhys to suspect that issues ran deeper than anyone realized.

“Just sayin’, boss,” Malcolm drawled, “the council is asking about a shifter female who’s a romance author. The vampires got some information from a vampire female a while back that her son was obsessed with an author who might be a shifter. Now that son has been dusted by Guardians and they want our council to answer for it.”

“We took out a vampire who kidnapped and attacked one of our mates.”

Malcolm cocked an eyebrow at the commander. “That’s your story and you’re sticking to it?”

Rhys spread his hands. “Don’t know what else they’d be looking for.”

“All right. Tell Irina to change her pen name and genre, maybe take a hiatus, just in case.”

“I’ll pass it on, if she’s secretly an author. Is that official council advice?” The question was loaded and they both knew it.

“I’m just the messenger, boss.”

“Are you?” Rhys worried the twins defected. Without telling him. Worried they were swayed by their parentage into whatever machinations the council had going on; that their father, a long-standing council member, tasked them with spying on their pack to report back to the council.

“Now Commander Fitzsimmons, just because we don’t call home every day doesn’t mean we don’t ever plan on coming back.”

Rhys read through the teasing tone. Whatever Malcolm and Harrison were working on was taking longer than planned. But they were still part of the pack. The males were the youngest Guardians under him, aside from Jace and Kaitlyn, but the private nature of the twins had always kept them distant.

“We might have a…situation…we may need you to come back for. Soon.”

Malcolm sobered. “We’ll be there, just tell us when and where.”

Good. Only Rhys knew about the information Parrish gave Dane. He planned to meet with the other Guardians and let them in on it, but for now he needed to sit on it. Agent X has kept the secret of who she is for over twelve years and Rhys didn’t want to risk it. Didn’t want to risk her. Son of a bitch. He was screwed.

*****

“Mabel,” Jace crooned, “sorry it’s been so long.”

“You bet it’s been a long time.”

Jace settled back at his kitchen table with a grin, keeping the phone at his ear waiting out the ass chewing Mabel was giving him. He had no excuses. While he’d wanted to keep in touch with his old pack leaders, Christian and his mate Mabel, life with the Guardians kept him busy. Every free moment he had, he spent with Cassie, usually settled deeply inside her if he had any say, and most of the time he did.

“You’re lucky I remember what it’s like to be newly mated,” Mabel finally finished her tirade.

“I knew you’d understand, Mabel. Maybe we should meet you two for supper sometime.”

“Let’s do next weekend. But first we need to give you some information.” Mabel’s voice turned serious and Jace knew he’d better listen up. “There was a male here looking for you. Didn’t say why, just that he was from Great Moon Colony.”

Jace frowned. His old clan? Some packs lived in town and didn’t fall under the rule of a clan. The clans that still existed were made up of several packs. They existed as their own entity, but followed the council’s rules religiously. His mother had packed up him and his sister after a Sigma attack killed his father and older brother. Since then, they’d had nothing to do with his former clan.

Jace hadn’t belonged to a pack until he got out of prison and found himself in Pale Moonlight applying for a job. Pale Moonlight was a club that many shifters frequented and used to fuel their need for pack mentality and increased sex drives. The employees belonged to Christian’s pack and were like Jace, aimless and alone.

It was the best damn move Jace had ever made in his life. Tending bar led him to Cassie, and that led him to working for the Guardians, a worthier endeavor than he ever thought would be granted to him. So why the fuck was someone from his old colony searching for him?

Thank you for reading my story. I’d love to know what you thought. Please consider leaving a review at the retailor you purchased the novella from.

Marie

Lawful Claim

Book 4, The Sigma Menace

Agent E wasn’t always an evil Sigma Agent. Even though evil had her claws in him, he couldn’t help but hang on to his past and watch over the family he lost, protecting them by staying dead to them. Until one night, he interfered.

When Ana Esposito’s life, and that of her son, was saved by the husband she had buried over a decade ago, she found her world irrevocably changed. Any chance of safety for her and her son lay with the hardened man that used to be the love of her life.

About the Author

Marie Johnston lives in the upper-Midwest with her husband, four kids, and an old cat. Deciding to trade in her lab coat for a laptop, she’s writing down all the tales she’s been making up in her head for years. An avid reader of paranormal romance, these are the stories hanging out and waiting to be told, between the demands of work, home, and the endless chauffeuring that comes with children.

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Also by Marie Johnston

The Sigma Menace:

Fever Claim (Book 1)

Primal Claim (Book 2)

True Claim (Book 3)

Reclaim (Book 3.5)

Lawful Claim (Book 4)

Pure Claim (Book 5)

New Vampire Disorder:

Demetrius (Book1)

Pale Moonlight:

Birthright (Book 1)

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Epilogue