29. Havoc
Havoc
I’ve felt fear before in my life.
Anger.
Pain.
I’ve faced fires—wild infernos where the flames themselves threatened to eat everything alive in their path. I’ve stood in smoke so thick I couldn’t see my own fucking hands and listened to hundred-foot trees crack and fall around me.
I’ve thought I was going to die more than once.
None of it comes close to the rage burning inside me right now.
Because this isn’t me in danger.
This is my family.
My mate is sitting in the passenger seat of my truck, one hand clenched around the seat belt, the other wrapped around her phone like she might be able to reach through the damn thing and pull her son back to her.
Our son.
Matteo.
My pup.
Some motherfucker took my pup.
Monster has gone eerily silent.
That should probably scare the shit out of me.
It does.
Because Monster’s loud when he’s pissed. Growling. Snarling. Clawing at me from the inside.
Right now?
Nothing.
The Wolf and I are completely fucking aligned. There’s no Rowan and Monster.
There’s just us.
Find.
Protect.
Kill.
I drive one-handed while I hit the call button on my phone.
Wreck answers on the second ring. Justin comes on a second later.
“Three-way calls? What are we, fucking cheerleaders now?” Justin quips.
“He has my son.”
Silence.
Instant.
Absolute.
Then a wave of pure Alpha male dominance hits me as Wreck’s voice comes through the speaker, and his Bear is right fucking there with him.
“What? Who? When?”
“Ethan. The Bearded Vulture male who thinks he owns my mate has stolen our son.”
Beside me, Gabby sucks in a breath. My hand immediately finds her thigh.
I squeeze. She grabs hold of me.
“I’m going to get him back,” I continue. “He’s waiting for her to walk into a fucking ambush at the end of the Western Trail. Meet me there.”
“What do you need?” Wreck asks.
There’s no hesitation. No bullshit.
This is what it means to be a True Alpha.
Pack.
Family.
We protect each other. I’ve never understood that like I do right now.
“Come in from the north side. Stay downwind if you can.”
“Done.”
“I'll take the ridge,” Justin says.
“Stay out of sight.”
The Dragon actually fucking growls.
“I know how to hunt, Wolf.”
Normally, I’d tell him to fuck himself. Tonight? I grin, but there is zero humor in it.
“Good.”
A beat of silence.
Then Wreck says, “Havoc.”
“What?”
“We get the kid first.”
My jaw clenches.
Because he knows exactly what Monster wants.
Blood.
But he’s right. Matteo first.
Always.
“I know.”
“Then the rest.”
My eyes narrow on the winding road ahead.
“Yeah.”
Justin’s voice drops.
“Got it. First we protect, then we deal with the rest.”
The call ends. I toss my phone into the console.
My mountain.
That thought keeps beating through my skull.
This motherfucker thinks he owns the skies? Thinks because he has wings he can come onto our mountain, take my pup, threaten my mate, and dictate the fucking rules?
Fuck no.
He has no idea what kind of hell he’s unleashed.
No idea what kind of fury he’s conjured from three dominant Alphas who have spent years fighting the monsters inside themselves.
A hybrid Bear.
A Dragon.
And me.
Ethan of the Suicide Cliff Wake thinks he’s walking into a meeting with the frightened female who escaped him years ago.
He has no fucking idea he’s walking into a hunt. And he’s the prey.
I take the turn that leads toward the western trailhead.
“Pull over.”
My head snaps toward Gabby.
“What?”
“Pull over.”
“No.”
“Rowan.”
“No.”
Her amber eyes flash.
Not tears this time.
Fire.
“Pull. Over.”
“Gabriella—”
“You need a plan, and you can't fucking plan while you're driving like a maniac.”
“I am not driving like a maniac.”
“You just took that curve at sixty.”
“I know this road.”
“You're growling at the road.”
“The road isn't the problem.”
“Rowan!”
“Fine.”
I slam the brakes harder than necessary and pull onto the shoulder. Gabby unbuckles immediately. I turn toward her.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going with you.”
“No.”
“I wasn't asking.”
“No.”
She stares at me. I stare back.
The matebond is fucking chaos.
Her terror.
My rage.
Her determination.
My need to wrap her in six feet of fucking bubble wrap and hide her in the safest place on the planet.
“I’m taking the main trail to meet Ethan,” she says.
For one second, I’m convinced I heard her wrong.
Then Monster loses his shit.
NO.
“Absolutely fucking not.”
“Rowan—”
“No.”
“Listen to me.”
“I am listening. I'm listening to my mate volunteer to walk straight toward the motherfucker who abused her, threatened her baby, and just kidnapped our son. So, no, Honey Girl. Find another fucking plan.”
“It is the plan.”
“No.”
“He expects me.”
“I don't give a fuck what he expects.”
“I do!”
Her voice cracks. That stops me.
Gabby’s chest heaves.
Her hands are trembling again, but she doesn’t look away from me.
“He has Matteo.”
“I know.”
“No, Rowan.”
She reaches for me. Both hands close around mine.
“He has my baby.”
The agony in her voice cuts straight through my rage. I turn my hands over and grip hers.
“I know, Honey. I’m going to get him back.”
“I know you will, but I can't sit somewhere waiting while you go after him.”
“You're not going anywhere near Ethan.”
“I have to go. It will be the perfect distraction for you to get close to him.”
“No, you fucking don't.”
“You don’t understand, he will have men with him. Soldiers. Dozens of them. And they fight dirty, Rowan.”
“I can fight dirty too.”
“I know, but he told me to come alone.”
“Which is exactly why you aren't.”
Her jaw sets. God fucking help me, my stubborn mate chooses now to become immovable.
“Think about what I am saying,” she says.
“I am.”
“No, you're being an Alpha.”
“Damn right.”
“You're being an asshole Alpha.”
“That too.”
“Rowan.”
“What?”
“If I don't show, what happens?”
My mouth opens. Nothing comes out. Because I know.
Fuck.
“He gets suspicious,” she says.
“He's already suspicious.”
“He thinks I'm terrified enough to obey him.”
“You are terrified.”
“Yes.”
No denial.
That hurts worse. Her fingers tighten around mine.
“I’m terrified. But not of him. I’m scared for Matteo. So look, I'm going in and you’re gonna save us both, got it?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Gabby.”
“Ethan needs to believe he's in control.”
The words change something.
I go quiet.
She sees it. Her eyes sharpen.
“You said Wreck is coming from the north.”
“Yeah.”
“Justin can watch from above.”
“Cloaked.”
“And you?”
“I'm not letting you out of my fucking sight.”
“That’s my point.”
I hate this. She’s right. I know she is. But I really fucking hate this.
“You stay hidden,” she continues. “I walk up from the main trail. Ethan sees me coming exactly like he ordered.”
“No.”
“Rowan—”
“He could have someone waiting.”
“He will. But you and Wreck can find them first.”
“He could attack before I reach you.”
“You won't let him.”
“No, but—”
“You won't let him.”
Her voice is softer now.
Not challenging me. Trusting me.
And somehow that’s more. Her hand comes up and cups my cheek.
The matebond opens wide.
Her fear hits me.
Raw.
Cold.
Overwhelming.
But beneath it?
Trust.
Absolute fucking trust.
And love. Love so strong and bright, it fucking blinds me.
“Gabby,” I growl.
“You won't let anything happen to me.”
Jesus Christ.
I close my eyes.
“Honey Girl.”
“You won't.”
“Damn fucking straight I won't.”
Monster’s agreement comes through me in a growl.
Gabby’s eyes widen slightly. Then, despite everything, the smallest smile touches her lips.
“There you are, my Alpha Wolf. Now, I know you’ll both protect me.”
“Don't fucking team up with my Wolf against me.”
“You're the same person.”
“Not when he's being an asshole.”
Fuck you.
“See?”
Her smile disappears almost as quickly as it came.
“Rowan.”
I grab the back of her neck and bring my forehead to hers.
“I don't like this.”
“I know.”
“I fucking hate it.”
“I know.”
“If I lose sight of you for one second—”
“You won't.”
“If I tell you to get down, you get down.”
“Yes.”
“If I tell you to run—”
“I run.”
“You don't argue.”
“I won't.”
“That's a fucking lie.”
“Probably.”
“Gabby.”
“Okay. I won't.”
My thumb brushes her pulse. Too fast.
She's scared out of her fucking mind.
And still willing to walk toward the monster from her past because her son needs her.
My fierce fucking mate.
“Your other nature,” I murmur. “Can you call her if you need her?”
Gabby goes still.
“I think so.”
“You think?”
“I haven't shifted in years.”
“Fuck.”
“But she's close.”
I feel something strange ripple through the matebond as she says it.
Hot.
Bright.
Not Wolf.
Something I don't recognize.
Monster does. His attention snaps toward her.
Fire.
Interesting. But I can’t spend time on that right now.
Later.
Because yes, there will be a fucking later. I refuse to entertain anything else.
I take out my phone and bring Wreck and Justin back into the call.
“Plan changed.”
“I hate those words,” Wreck grunts.
“Gabby walks the main trail.”
“Fuck no,” Wreck says.
“Thank you,” I snap.
Gabby glares at me. Justin speaks next.
“It makes tactical sense.”
“Fuck you, Sparky.”
“Emotionally, it's a terrible idea. Tactically, it gives us control over where Ethan focuses his attention.”
I hate when the Dragon makes sense.
“I'll stay above her,” Justin continues. “He won't see me.”
“I want eyes on the entire trail.”
“You'll have them.”
“Wreck?”
“I'll flank from the tree line.”
“No engagement until we locate Matteo.”
“Agreed.”
My stomach twists.
My pup first.
“Matteo is the priority.”
“Always,” Wreck says.
Gabby closes her eyes.
A tear escapes. I wipe it away.
“Then we get Gabby out.”
Wreck grunts.
“Obviously.”
“Then it’s Ethan’s turn.”
A pause. Justin answers this time.
“Understood.”
The call ends.
Gabby looks at me.
“What does ‘then it’s Ethan’s turn’ mean?”
“Don't ask questions you already know the answer to.”
“Rowan.”
“He took my son.”
The words come out darker than I intended. Her breath catches.
“He threatened my mate.”
I lean closer.
“He put his hands on my family.”
Gold washes over my vision.
Monster is right fucking there.
“So what happens to Ethan after you and Matteo are safe isn't something you need to worry about.”
Her amber eyes search mine.
“Don't lose yourself.”
That hits. Hard.