Chapter 10 #2
Kellen studied the screens but didn’t say a word for a long moment.
“Do you trust the men you have meeting us? Do they know what they are possibly coming up against? The bitch is a shifter, which would mean there might possibly be a whole pack of the fucks there.” He growled, his voice so rough, the wolf in him closer to the surface than I’d heard in a long time.
A knock on the door had the men standing, covering the screens with their backs. The petite form of Laikyn entered. “I got the results back from the blood work on Breezy. I figured you’d want to know first.” She stared at a point above Kellen’s head.
I walked over to her, impatient to know whatever had been in my mate’s body. “What is it?” I placed my hands on her shoulders. A deep growl behind me had me pausing, my gaze going back to see that Kellen had taken a few steps toward us.
“They used a paralytic agent. When the vet sent me the codes, he had no clue what they meant, so I sent them to a colleague of mine at Johns Hopkins. He said it was a trial drug still in development. I had to do some fast talking and a lot of promising to get him to believe I had come across some research that included the material. From the studies so far, there are no adverse effects to the subjects, but they haven’t used it on humans.
” Laikyn stopped, staring at Kellen, who’d come up beside us, chest heaving.
“You are not bartering sex for information from Dr. Dickweed.” The hand he grabbed the little doctor with had morphed, black claws tipped his fingers, yet he was careful when he pulled her to him.
“Alpha, I can and will do what is necessary for the pack, or what I want with my body.” Her breathy voice might have been convincing if she hadn’t shivered for all to see.
I cleared my throat. “Listen, you two can discuss your issues after we deal with this shit. I need to know that Breezy is fine. That she’s going to be fine. My cubs are going to be fine.”
Laikyn jerked out of Kellen’s grip. “Yeah, that is basically what the studies show. I’ll do lab work again before I leave...” She stopped as Kellen growled, placing her hands on her hips. “Stop fucking growling at me.”
“Little wolf, I will beat that round ass of yours until you can’t sit if you keep it up.” His harsh voice brooked no argument.
“The fuck you say.” She stepped back. Kellen grabbed her. “Oh, I’ll do that, too, don’t you worry.”
“All right, kids, we’ve got to get this show on the road.” Kayan tapped a few keys on the keyboard.
“This discussion is not over. I’ve tried to stay away from you, but that time is over,” Kellen breathed out roughly.
“I’ll make it really easy, just keep your paws to yourself, and we’ll be fine. As for your questions, Xan, I don’t believe you or your future cubs will be harmed. We shifters metabolize medicines faster than humans, and that drug wasn’t manufactured with our systems in mind.”
Laikyn gasped as Kellen’s callused hands landed on her bare midriff. “You stay put until I say.”
I heard Kellen’s control slipping, but we needed our alpha in complete command of all his facilities. “She’ll stay here until we get back. Won’t you, Laikyn? Breezy might have a few questions for you as well.”
“We are rolling out in thirty minutes.” Rowan gathered up his things.
“I’m going to see my mate before we leave. I suggest you stay here, or we will leave without you.”
“Did you become Alpha, and I didn’t know it? Last time I checked, there was a certain way to become it. The old one died, and his second either couldn’t become it, or he was defeated in battle.” I let my arms fall loosely to my sides.
Rowan shook his head. “I’m far from stupid. Plus, my mate would kick my ass, and she wouldn’t patch me up from the ass-whooping you’d inflict. Besides, Kellen is far from retiring.”
I grunted at that, watching as Rowan left without another word. “Where the fuck did Laikyn go?” Kellen growled, looking around.
Kayan smirked. “While those two were arguing and you were watching, she sorta backed out, quiet like a mouse. Funniest shit I ever did see.”
Kellen took a step toward him. “Why didn’t you stop her?”
“Listen. You can come back and fuck the little wolf on any available surface, or hell, air-fuck her for all I care, but I’ve got other shit to do. Like kill some motherfuckers, then go get laid. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been properly?” he stopped, a groan interrupting him.
“Don’t let him start. He was just with a little thing in Dallas.” Coyle slapped Kayan on the back, making him grunt.
“How many are going with us, and how many are you leaving here?” Kayan asked Kellen.
“I’ll leave forty or so here and take twenty with us. How many are with the other team?” Kellen turned away, but not before he stared at the closed door.
I warred between staying to help protect my mate and going to finish off the threat myself. Going won out. After reaching out to Breezy through our link, I found comfort in knowing she was sleeping soundly. I backed out and left her alone.
“I’m going to step into the club and see if Breezy’s dad or brothers are around. I want one of them to be near our rooms at all times.” I walked out, immediately catching Coti’s attention.
“I’m staying here with Turo. We’ll hold down the fort, while you and the others take care of the trash.
” His muscles flexed. A vein popped on his bald head.
The large Hawaiian was the group’s jokester most of the time.
For him to have muscles popping that wasn’t to impress the ladies, let me know he was pissed.
“Be safe, my friend.” I continued past, inhaling through the myriad scents until I locked onto the ones I was looking for.
Shaw and Parker were ensconced in a corner booth, deep in a private conversation if their body language was anything to go by.
Both Mattice men’s heads jerked up at my approach, their faces creased with worry.
“Excuse me, boys, I don’t want to take up too much time. You know we are heading out, but I need to know you’ll watch over Breezy.” Their smell was off, but I assumed it was due to their concern over the attacks, which made them nervous.
Shaw cleared his throat. “Do you have a lead?”
I chose my words wisely, not wanting to give too much away. “We are just doing some scouting. I’ll just feel better knowing my mate’s family is watching over her.”
“No worries there, man.” Parker looked me in the eye.
I felt unease skitter down my spine. “Where’s your dad?” I hadn’t seen the elder Mattice all day, but I’d been busy with other things, namely my mate.
“He’s resting.” Shaw shuffled out of the booth, making me take a step back to give the smaller man room to stand.
Both brothers were shorter than me by a few inches, yet neither seemed all that scared of me.
I let my alpha presence filter to the surface.
Although I wasn’t the alpha of the pack, I was second, and by all, they would know who the top wolf next to Kellen was.
Each man fought the need to submit a little longer than I’d expected, then a grimace pulled at both their lips, before they dropped their eyes and then to their knees.
“I don’t know what’s crawled up your ass, boys, but get it out by the time I get back, or we can take it up in the cage.
” I left without another word. The last thing I wanted was to beat the fuck out of my in-laws.
My mate would probably be pissed at me. However, I couldn’t allow them to talk back or down to me, as was the case. Especially when it came to her safety.
“What was that about?” Kellen asked as I entered the new war room.
We needed to get this shit taken care of and reclaim our office. I’d yet to fuck Breezy on every available surface. I could picture laying her out on one of the leather sofas, then thought better of it. Too many other women had been there, and I wasn’t sure she’d appreciate it.
I should’ve known my show of power wouldn’t go unnoticed.
“The Mattice boys needed a lesson, so I taught them. School is out for the moment, now we can focus on the important shit. Like tracking the fucks who attempted to take my mate, and then if it’s still a problem when I get back. ..” I didn’t need to finish.
Kellen nodded. “I’ll be sure and let Wyck know. I think you should let them both take you on. More money to be had.”
“You’re a greedy bastard. Who are you betting on?”
“Depends.” Kellen led the way out the door.
“On what?” I asked, watching Rowan and his team file out behind him.
The alpha glanced over his shoulder. “How badly did you get hurt after the mission?”
I raised my fist, giving Kellen the middle finger. “Why are you always flipping me off? I don’t swing that way.”
Sully shook his head. “I thought we were a weird bunch.”
Kayan gripped my shoulder. “We are a weird lot, don’t let him fool you.”
“Never doubted it for a minute,” I assured him. “I’m driving my rig. Who’s riding with me?”
“I’ll ride with you, along with Coyle and Oz. Let’s take as few vehicles as possible. If something happens and you can’t drive back, let me know how to operate your precious.” Kayan’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
My first instinct was a hell no, but I recognized the need for a backup plan. “Fine. But understand you put one mark on her that wasn’t there before, and I will gut you.”
“You wolves are a brutal lot,” Tay remarked, tossing a bowie knife in the air, catching it blade side without a care for cutting himself.
I wondered who was the craziest of us. Looking over at Kellen, the gleam in his electric blue eyes, and I was pretty sure it was our leader, hands down.
“Let’s roll. I’m not getting any younger, and I can guarantee, y’all will be wanting to check in with your mates. Speaking of, how did you get away from yours without a fight, Rowan?” Kayan asked.
Rowan growled, a dark look crossed over his face. “None of your business. Let’s go.”
Kellen laughed. “That means he’s in trouble. Pussy whipped is what we call that.”
I shook my head. Kellen had no clue how it felt to have a woman mean so much to you that you’d gladly lay your life on the line for them. When the big alpha fell, he’d fall so damn hard, I was sure the building was gonna rock.