Retribution (Moonstruck Genesis #4)

Chapter 13

AFTER THE meeting with the Town Council, the Wolves gathered in Mac and Hannah’s cabin at Gap Mountain Resort, along with their families. Most of the women were either on laps or otherwise cuddled by their mates, but for Mac and Hannah. Mac gave the women the rundown on what was said. When he finished, he glanced over at DJ. “What did you find out about our unwanted visitors?”

She chewed her upper lip for a moment, marshaling her thoughts. “I…damn, Mac. You’d think these locals had done this before.”

Sean shrugged as he added, “Maybe they have.”

“Well, they have it down to a science. That dispatcher? She’s no country bumpkin. Has a master’s in criminal justice. And is married to the West Virginia trooper who investigated the auto accident.”

“That’s convenient,” Mac said.

“Yeah, amazing how that all worked out. She’s not local. She met and married her husband in college. Took him awhile to get reassigned back to his home territory once he became a trooper, but he’s here now. They set up the wreck to look like an accident. Official report says high rate of speed and fog contributed to the wreck. Lead car went over the cliff and the rest followed. Lucky thing they landed in a big ol’ rock slide. Kaboom. Lots of fire, but none of it touched the surrounding forest. Nothing worth recovering left of the cars, and very little left of the bodies.” DJ leaned back against Antoine. “Interesting side note. The guy in the suit Hannah saw? His name was Curt Maxwell. He was a low level security employee for Black Root. And his boss got a text a few minutes before the wreck. I quote, BG lead false. Headed to next one. Heavy fog slowing us down. A few minutes later, the phone got a text back telling him to keep HQ informed.” She passed a Post-It note to Sean. “There’s the phone number on the other end. Maybe you can trace it.”

Sean’s grin tilted toward the geeky side. “Oh, yeah, only there’s no maybe about it. I can trace it. Y’all excuse me.” He eased out from behind Annie and headed toward the laptop on the dining room table.

Hannah walked over to stand next to Mac. “It appears the Blaidd Pack covered their tracks. And well enough to stay safe.”

“For now.” Mac scrubbed his palm over the top of his head. “We can’t stay here. Doing so continues to put them in the crosshairs.”

The men all nodded, but the women exchanged concerned glances. Hannah answered their unanswered questions. “Yes, it’ll be tough on the kids. They’ve already been so isolated. Here in Blaidd’s Gap they have the chance for a pretty normal childhood. Except we’d always be looking over our shoulders, waiting for someone to come hunting us.” Nods greeted her statement and she forged ahead. “I say we go to the Smith Mountain facility. For now. Once we exterminate the Black Root threat, we can consider coming back here.”

Mac’s brow crinkled, but Hannah held up her hand. “You don’t want to be Alpha. I get it, Mac. I don’t want to be head woman or whatever the hell Flossie Cadogan is. I don’t want to be chief cook and bottle washer. I don’t want to be nursemaid, social secretary, or den mother to a pack of Wolves and humans.”

Jacey snorted and held up her hand. “Uhm, Hannah? Too late, hon. You already are.”

“Yeah, whatever. But just for you miscreants. I don’t want the welfare of all those others on my shoulders. Or my conscience. But at the same time, I have a son. We dragged him away from a life where he had friends and a nearly normal existence. We dragged him to Oklahoma and then to the bayous. He deserves to have friends. To be in a real school. Most of all, though, I want him safe. I want all of us safe. Once we are, we can look at finding our lives again.”

Mac watched everyone’s expressions and judged their moods. “So. We move tomorrow. I’ll let Cadogan know.”

THE FACILITIES at the 69th’s old post weren’t in terrible shape considering it had been mothballed for the previous ten years. The Army maintained the buildings, kept the power plant in running condition, and otherwise insured the Wolves could pretty much hit the ground running. Most of the buildings remained in moth balls. Each family had moved into one of the officer’s quarters situated around a small quadrangle. The motor pool garage and an administrative building had also been brought on line—literally and figuratively. One of the things Sean and Nate had been working on was a secure communications network that included internet.

The ladies turned the quad into their common area, much like they had at the campground in Louisiana. They worked to return life to normal, all the while waiting for the other shoe to drop, which it did with a phone call from Harjo. Hannah, alerted by a surreptitious phone call from Amy Harjo, headed to the administrative building and crashed their planning session, pausing at the door when the men all turned to look at her.

“Hannah?”

“Yeeesss?” She intentionally drew out the word.

“Why are you here?”

“Why are you asking, Mac?” She strode in and settled her hip on the corner on the conference table. “Harjo called. Where else would I be?”

“Hannah—” Mac started to warn her off, but she stopped him.

“Don’t. I already know what’s going on. Amy called me. Harjo found a lead.”

“Sort of.”

“Amy said he had a lead. A source willing to talk to us.”

“Sort of.”

Hannah made a “bitter beer” face and glowered. “Sort of,” she replied, her voice devoid of emotion. “Cut the shit, Mac. I know this source has something to do with the government. Those are the traps Harjo has been running. I can help.”

“No.”

“No?” Hannah held herself very still and everyone but Mac moved back.

“No. I don’t want you involved. This is dangerous.”

Hannah nailed him in the chest with both hands and pushed. He was so surprised she actually managed to knock him off balance. “You are not the fucking boss of me, Ian McIntire. All this gawddamned Alpha talk is going to your head. I damn well know this is dangerous. Our lives are on the line. All of our lives. Not just you, or Lightfoot, or any other fucking Wolf cowering in this room. Our son is in danger. Our friends are in danger. When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that I’m not some…some…” She unclenched the fists she’d formed without conscious thought and relaxed her hands.

Mac stared at her, fighting to get his own emotions under control. She wasn’t just his mate and he needed to remember that. Hannah had strength—real strength—all her own. She proved that on their first mission. And she’d proven it every day since. Josiah Cadogan had been right. Hannah was a worthy mate for an Alpha. And as much as he feared for her safety, he knew deep down he couldn’t deny her nature. She would always do what needed to be done. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“Fine.”

“Fine?” Hannah stared at Mac like he’d grown a second head. Mac muttered under his breath and Hannah jumped on the few words she heard. “You’re admitting I’m right?”

“I’m admitting you’ll do what you have to in order to keep us safe.” He reached over and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. “Because that’s who you are.”