Chapter 27
“I love you, too, babe,” Zane crooned, wrapping his arms around David.
He’d never expected to hear his mate say those same words to him so soon; it floored him, but it was the best surprise he’d ever gotten.
Softly kissing David’s forehead, Zane felt his heart burst with joy, filling him with happiness.
Smiling down at the man in his arms, he thanked the Fates again for giving him such a unique mate.
Zane’s eyes roamed over David’s face—his mate looked tired. “Hey babe, Ready for some more sleep?”
“Maybe we should clean up first,” David suggested.
Zane chuckled. “Yeah, that’d probably be a good thing. You stay here and I’ll be right back.” Getting up, he heard his mate hiss as cold air replaced his body heat. When Zane returned, he had a warm, wet washcloth.
David shivered again when Zane uncovered him.
Watching his mate tenderly clean him off, his smile faded as he remembered how rough his keeper was when she bathed him.
Closing his eyes, he forced that image out of his mind, concentrating instead on what his mate was doing.
He anticipated being warmed again when Zane finished, but when that didn’t happen, he opened his eyes and saw his mate staring out the window.
“What’s the problem? Aren’t you coming back to bed? ”
“Uhmm…just a minute, babe,” Zane said, dropping the covers over his mate.
Walking to the window, he peered into the darkness outside where he could see the dim forms of men moving around.
Trying to see who they were, he frowned, realizing there were at least 50 of them.
“Babe, you better get dressed,” he said, watching the scene unfold in front of him.
“Why?” David asked, turning over so he could see his mate. At that moment, a loud knock echoed through the room, startling David. “Who’s there?” he asked his mate.
Zane left the window and, grabbing his pants, slipped them on as he moved towards the door. “I think it’s Angus,” he said. Opening the door, he saw the big Scot and several of his men behind him. “Hey, is there a problem? Do you need our place?” asked Zane.
“Nae, but I just got a call from mah king, warnin’ me of men headed this way.”
“Ian? Did he say the men are after my mate?” asked Zane.
“Ay, they are. King Ian wull be arrivin’ shortly.”
“I’ll be right out,” Zane said.
“Ay, we’ll be waitin’ for the signal from our lookout.”
“Thanks,” Zane said, closing the door after Angus turned away. Looking at his mate, who was now sitting up in bed, eyes wide at the news, he knew David had to leave—he wasn’t a fighter. “Babe, I need you to bop out of here so I know you’ll be safe.”
Pain pierced David’s heart at the thought of leaving his mate.
“No, I won’t. If you’re going to fight, so am I,” David said, folding his arms across his chest. Zane thought for a moment.
He had to admit his mate did know Michael better than anyone here and, most probably, he’d be leading the attack.
Staring at his resolute mate, Zane smiled to himself at the cuteness of David’s pose but, ignoring that, he responded, “Babe, you can’t shift and even if you did, how many times have you fought as a wolf?
And what about killing? Because I can guarantee you Angus and his men will kill every intruder they can sink their teeth into and so will I. Are you ready to kill someone tonight?”
Lowering his head, David stared at the floor.
Everything his mate said was true but there wasn’t any way he was going to leave him to face Michael alone.
Thinking about how he could help, one possibility came to mind and he was pretty sure it would work.
Raising and locking his eyes on his mate’s, David said, “Together we are stronger than apart. I won’t leave you alone.
I can poof around and confuse the men who are after me.
Please, cuore mio, I can’t leave you. Please don’t ask me to! ”
Zane saw tears swimming in his mate’s eyes as he pled his case for staying.
He thought about what David had suffered and realized this was a chance for him to regain some self-respect that the High Priestess and her accomplice had robbed him of.
Taking his mate’s suggestion under consideration, Zane smiled as he formulated a plan.
“Okay, babe, we’ll fight together but you have to do exactly what I say. ”
Beaming, David said, “Grazie…thank you! I promise! Tell me what to do.”
Sitting down on the bed next to his mate, Zane said, “Okay, here’s the plan…”
~/~/~/~/~
It was early morning when the High Priestess heard the knock she was expecting.
Rising from her bed and slipping into her silk robe and slippers, she walked over to her desk, unlocked a drawer and took out a small pistol.
Slipping it into one of her robe pockets, she headed to the door, then paused. “Who is it?”
“Me.”
Softly chuckling to herself, she unlocked and opened the door, pulling the man inside before closing it quickly. “I’m assuming you received your order to kill me.”
“I did. He sent it to me by text if you want to see it.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ve been expecting it sooner or later.
Follow me and I’ll get your money.” The High Priestess walked to her desk and, picking up a key, moved to a large, ornately-carved wooden chest sitting against the wall.
After inserting the key and raising the lid, she withdrew two, large heavy bags.
“Here, you can use my desk to count it if you wish.”
“Not necessary. I know where to find you if there’s a shortage.”
“That you do. Nice doing business with you…and don’t forget to let Michael know you were successful in your mission tonight.”
Shrugging his shoulders, he said, “Fine, if that’s what you want me to do.”
“Yes, please. I trust you can find your way out.”
Nodding, he hefted the two bags over his shoulder, opened the door and left.
Closing and locking the door, she then returned to her desk, placing her gun back in its safe spot. Then sitting down in one of the plush chairs facing the window, she stared contentedly at the moon, grateful her time as a whore had given her access to the underbelly of shifter society.
~/~/~/~/~
Kieran felt his mate’s urgency with each downward stroke of his mate’s big wings as they were carried to the remote site.
His eyes roamed the landscape, hoping to spot the men who wanted David and Zane.
Fly higher, macushla! As Logan responded to his request, Kieran was able to see far ahead and finally spotted a group of wolves running north along mountainous terrain.
Macushla, there, there they are, down there!
They’re heading towards Angus and his men.
Logan’s dragon eyes scanned the dark until he spotted the wolves. Changing course, he headed for them. Tell Slate and Colton to hold onto Dakota and Ian. I’m going to swoop low over them to make sure they aren’t Angus’ men before attacking.
Turning his head to the side, Kieran shouted Logan’s instructions to Slate and Colton before concentrating on the target. Macushla, I counted twenty wolves.
Yup, me too. Hang on babe, here we go! Logan flew low over them, picking up their scent. Satisfied they were the enemy, he gained altitude and circled before swooping down on his targets with a roar of fire, igniting the ground in front of the hapless wolves and sending flames soaring into the air.
Kieran giggled as he watched the forward movement of the group come to an abrupt halt—the leading wolves skidding to a stop, clawing the ground, trying to keep from being pushed into the fire by those behind them.
Logan repeated his attack, using fire to cut off any route to the north, finally forcing the wolves to turn around and head south.
Following them, he kept up his fire barrage, shooting flames behind them, making it clear as to which way he wanted them to go.
Finally, Logan circled around and headed toward the Scottish Wolf pack.
Pouring on the power, he sped through the night, hoping he’d arrive in time.
~/~/~/~/~
Michael was pissed. He barely had enough men with him to attack the Scottish wolves.
He’d stayed far enough away in the woods so they couldn’t be scented but the longer they remained there, the greater the chance their location would be discovered—certainly it would happen when the sun rose.
Still, he waited, fuming, as his reinforcements from the south had yet to make an appearance.
Checking his phone, he saw the message that the job was finished and he smiled to himself.
A new idea came to him about who would replace Brenda; why bother, he thought.
As the High Priest, he would have total control over David and use fear rather than Brenda’s fruitless methods.
He’d waited long enough for a return on his investment.
Sitting against a tree, Tyson occasionally glanced at Michael, wondering why he was smiling.
He felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Reaching in, he silenced it.
Slowly rising, he indicated to Michael that he had to take a shit and headed off into the woods.
When he was sure he was hidden from everyone, he pulled out his phone and smiled as he read the text.
Then he buried the phone under a log where he could retrieve it after the fighting was over.
Michael looked around at his men. The sky was beginning to lighten and he could wait no longer for his southern contingent to arrive.
“Okay, time to shift and break into your groups,” he ordered.
“Remember, your role is to keep the Scottish wolves occupied so my group can retrieve the target. Once he’s secure, I’ll give you the signal to break off the attack and we’ll meet back here.
Any questions?” Seeing none, Michael growled, “Shift.”
Stripping, Michael stuffed his clothes and phone into a small backpack, hanging it on a branch. After shifting, he watched the wolves form up into their assigned groups with Tyson on his left flank. Giving a snap of his teeth, Michael issued a low growl and began running, leading them into battle.
~/~/~/~/~
Zane led David over to Angus who was issuing orders and directing the other Scottish wolves. Remaining quiet, he waited for an opening to speak. Zane smiled as Angus revealed his plan—David would help assure its success.
“Ay, ye’ll be leaving now, I expect?” Angus asked, sure Zane and David would not be joining in the fight.
“Absolutely not,” Zane said emphatically. “We brought these assholes to you so it’s our fight too…even more than yours.”
“Ay,” Angus nodded in agreement, “but we cannot protect yer mate.”
“I don’t expect you to, but David will be a big help to us.” Zane saw the doubt reflected in Angus’ face, but that would soon change. “David knows the leader and will lure him to us.”
Angus’ bushy eyebrows almost disappeared into his hair with skepticism. Looking over at the slender shifter, disbelief was reflected in his voice as he asked, “And how is he plannin’ tae do that, laddie?”
Grinning, Zane revealed their plan.
~/~/~/~/~
Michael’s nerves were on edge as he ran towards David; his wolf was disturbed.
He was unable to figure out why he was unnerved since it had never happened to him on any other dangerous mission.
Using his wolf senses, Michael tuned into his surroundings but found nothing unusual—the early birds scavenged for their breakfast, small creatures scurried away from the wolves and, most importantly, he heard no howls from lookouts signaling their approach.
Deciding to ignore his instincts, Michael sped up, his paws tearing up the forest floor.
He needed to arrive before the first light of dawn and cursed his decision to wait for his other men.
Everything hinged on the attack being a surprise both to the Scottish wolves and David, as he caught them sleeping.
Grinning, Michael was already imagining how sweet his victory would be with David in his clutches and Brenda gone.
Emerging from the woods, Michael led his wolves up the last hill standing in the way of achieving his lifelong goal of endless wealth, which no longer needed to be shared with Brenda.
As he crested the hill, the last thing he expected to see was David, standing alone, seemingly waiting for him.
Narrowing his eyes, Michael searched the valley, but nothing moved except his prey—walking towards him.
Slowing down, then stopping, Michael waited, sensing a trap.
“Michael,” called David.
Debating what to do for a second, Michael then shifted, standing naked, surrounded by his wolves. “Where’s your mate?” he asked.
“He rejected me once I told him who I was,” David replied, feeling the pain slice through him for saying those words even though he didn’t mean them. Stopping about 20 yards from Michael, he stood still, watching his nemesis.
Turning David’s words over in his mind, Michael yelled, “I don’t believe you.”
David stared at Michael. Then, shrugging his shoulders he said, “Fine, then I’ll just keep everything I gain for myself.” Turning away, he strode toward an outcropping of boulders.
Snarling, Michael shifted, giving a howl for his group to follow, his wolf bounding after David, intent on teaching him a lesson as to who was in charge, once and for all.
Reaching the boulders, just after Michael shifted, David ducked behind them and into the arms of his waiting mate who pulled him tight to his chest while kissing his cheek.
“Now, get the hell out of here…please,” Zane hissed.