Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Ishook my head at the men’s antics. “Are y’all always like that?”
Kayan shrugged his shoulders. “It’s better than killing each other.”
I stared at the red-haired man. His brown eyes met mine. “Don’t believe what he says. I’m not the crazy one.” He winked. “Except that one time I jumped out of a plane without a chute. It was planned. People do it all the time, and we are trained and shit.”
“That’s called skydiving, you ass. It’s done at a certain altitude, and it’s not done when we are on a perfectly safe flight that had a flight plan that didn’t include you jumping out.” The one called Tay replied.
Oz shrugged his shoulders and pointed at the dark-skinned man. “He said I wouldn’t do it, and we were over an ocean. I had a plan.”
I exchanged a look with Lyric, who looked worried. Her fear echoed in the other woman’s eyes. “You’re joking, right?”
Rowan looked uncomfortable. “We were almost at the proper altitude, and he did land in water with very little damage. Kayak saved him, living up to his namesake.”
The human emitted a growl that was almost as good as a wolf, lifting his middle finger. “As amusing as I find your stories, let’s focus on our current problem.” Kellen brought our attention back around.
Lyric shot her mate a worried look, his head bent, their foreheads touched, and then they both closed their eyes.
I turned away, knowing they were communicating.
Xan’s big palm rubbed my back, the scars there no longer bothering me so much.
“It’ll be okay, breathe.” I exhaled quietly, astonished at the beautiful yet harsh men who’d joined our group.
Once Kellen began explaining the last couple of weeks, the laughing, affable men disappeared. The laughter might never have been there from the expressions on their faces. Kayan took a seat, then the others followed suit, obviously waiting for him. Rowan’s brows rose, but he didn’t say anything.
What seemed hours later, the men were still talking or coming up with plans of action. My ass was getting numb, and I needed to potty. Lyric stood at the same time, both of us holding out our hands. Lyric whispered to Rowan, who rolled his eyes, patting her ass as she stepped around him.
“Gotta go to the little girl’s room and get something to eat. Want anything?”
Xan reached for my hand as I passed. “Don’t leave the clubhouse.”
My gaze went around the room. Intense would describe them all to a T. My eyes flickered, my wolf coming to the surface, but I pushed her back. “I won’t,” I promised.
Lyric snorted. “You’re so whipped. Come on, let’s potty and let them discuss. We can stay on top of their discussion even from afar.”
I wished I were as sure as Lyric. The younger woman was every bit the alpha as her brother.
We entered the large restroom, regarding each other warily.
Wolves tended to be territorial in general.
If Lyric planned to give me the talk, my wolf and I would show her who was top wolf when it came to Xan.
“Relax, chick. I’m not going to want to rumble over my brother.
You and he look good together, and I can see you’ve mated.
Congrats, by the way. It’s about time y’all quit dancing around each other.
I’m tired of watching a different bitch panting after his ass.
Now, we just need to find a nice little wolf for Kellen. ” Lyric entered the first stall.
I relaxed and went into the stall next to Lyric. “You think a nice wolf would be a good idea for our fierce leader? Really?” I asked, washing my hands.
Lyric scrubbed her own and then dried them before answering. “Okay, maybe an alpha bitch, but I think we should get to pick her. Remember, whoever he chooses becomes our alpha as well.”
There was no way I was interfering in Kellen’s love life. Lyric smoothed her hands down her figure, making me wish I were a little more lithe like my new sister-in-law. “You’re gorgeous, you know that, right? My brother is lucky to have landed you.” Her eyes held truth and sincerity.
I opened my mouth and then shut it. What would it have been like to have grown up with another sister?
Having had only two brothers who were twins and so connected, I’d felt like a third wheel all my life.
My father, Shaw, and Parker loved me, but after my mother’s banishment, our relationship had become turbulent.
In the mirror, my eyes reflected the pain of memories.
“What did I say?” Lyric asked.
Although I’d shared my past with Xan, doing so with others, even Lyric, wasn’t something I was ready to do just yet, maybe never. “It wasn’t you, it was something from my past.” I shook my head. “Let’s go get something to eat. I know there’s food in the kitchen that we can cook up.”
“Oh, yeah. Deep-fried anything we could want.” Lyric held the door open.
“Hey, I love anything you can bread and throw in a vat of grease. Hence my ass and hips.”
Lyric snorted. “Oh palease, you have a body I would love to have. All curves and shit. Don’t make me kick your ass.”
“Let’s agree to disagree then, cause you have all those damn muscles and still manage to have curves. I swear I work out and still can’t get rid of the badonk.”
The look Lyric gave me said she thought I was just this side of nuts.
A strange wolf met us as we walked back out.
Lyric came to a stop, making me bump into her.
“Excuse me, the meeting is in the main clubhouse.” We’d gone to the ladies’ room in the back, closer to the bar area, since the kitchen was back there.
I refused to flinch at the mean look the female gave us.
It was one of loathing, and something I couldn’t put my finger on.
“I didn’t want to interrupt the menfolk, you know how they can get.” She stared at us unblinking.
A touch of uncertainty entered me. I reached for Xan on our new mental path.
“There’s a strange female back here. I don’t pretend to know all the members of the pack, but even Lyric doesn’t know this bitch.
” I waited for him to acknowledge my call but was unable to sense him.
A dark veil covered the link that should be open.
“Look, we were just getting ready to head back to see if the guys were ready to roll. Wanna come with us?”
“As a matter of fact, I was just going to see if you two could help me. I’m moving into one of the suites and could really use some help.”
Doubt was a living, breathing beast in my head. Lyric took a step back, her hand pulling me with her. “Sure thing, darlin. Rowan will help, too.”
The stranger sighed. “Lord, Sandy swore this would be easy. Two blonde bitches with more tits than brains.” She stretched out one arm, her fingers morphing into claws.
I knocked Lyric away. “Run for help, Lyric.” She opened her mouth to argue, but I had to focus on the fight in front of me.
The hallway didn’t allow more than the two of us to maneuver.
If Lyric could reach the guys and hold the strange wolf hostage, we might be able to find out who was orchestrating the attack.
“That was too easy,” the wolf said moments before she pulled something out of her back pocket.
“You realize you’re surrounded by my pack,” I said coolly. “You really picked the wrong place to attack, girlfriend.”
I lunged for the hand holding the odd-looking weapon, a sudden jolt, followed by numbness entered my veins. Oh, god, this couldn’t be happening to me.
“Well, she did have something right. You are dumber than a box of rocks, but you weigh a ton.”
“Who is this she bitch?” My slurred question went unanswered as I dropped to the ground.
The woman didn’t try to stop the descent as I fell.
My face slammed into the ground next. The pain hurt like hell, and I knew it would leave a visible mark, but I was sure I hadn’t broken anything.
A smirk on the chick’s face was the last thing I saw.
I jumped up at the sight of my sister running into the meeting room. Her tan face was unusually pale. “What the hell happened?” I looked behind her, searching for my mate.
“There was a shifter girl in the hall. I didn’t recognize her. Neither did Breezy. We thought I should send one of you to check her out. Breezy’s detaining her.”
My chair flew back as I stormed out, followed by Kellen and several others. A barked order to several wolves to stay and guard the front fell from the alpha. The hall was empty, the sight of the exit door with light filtering through as if it hadn’t been closed filled me with worry.
Lyric whimpered. I ran the last few feet, bursting into the parking lot, with red taillights visible as they left. “You did the right thing, coming to get us.” I heard Kellen assure her while I looked left and right for my vehicle.
The large XV Assault sat where I’d left it, my keys were out before I reached the driver’s door, with Kellen hot on my heels. “I’m riding shotgun, but don’t get us killed.”
My lips lifted in a snarl. “The only ones bout to get dead are the ones who took my mate. Don’t think to hold me or my wolf back, Kell, alpha or not, I will kill all who are in that rig.” I revved the engine, then took off without another word.
“I feel you, man.” Kellen buckled up.
I didn’t think Kellen did, but I kept quiet, focusing on finding Breezy.
Our connection was new. “Can you reach her through the alpha link?” I clenched my jaw, hating that I couldn’t connect with her.
Either she was unconscious, or I didn’t want to think the alternative.
My Breezy was too strong to be anything other than unavailable momentarily, I promised myself.
However, Kellen had a link none of the others had.
A furrow wrinkled Kellen’s brow as he attempted to communicate. “I can’t link with her, but she’s alive.”
I let out a deep breath. That was good news. Surely, they needed or wanted her alive. Racing down the road, I spotted the vehicle that had peeled out of the parking lot. “Hold onto something. I’m going to ram it.”