Authors: Elle Boon
Taking a deep breath, the code entered, Breezy pushed the door open. Woods covered all sides of the entryway. A deep inhale and she smelled nothing but trees and vegetation. Breezy tossed her clothes off, leaving them in the entrance to the tunnel, and shifted quickly. If her mama wanted to chase her down, then she’d have to do it on all fours. Gods, she had no plan. Xan, she wanted her mate. Their home was too far, and she didn’t know where he had gone, or how long it would take him to get back to her. She promised herself she’d never be a coward, but until she knew what she was facing, or how many, there was only one thing to do. Stay alive.
****
S
andy snarled. She’d only brought a handful of her best guards with her, leaving the rest to fight what she knew would be a full contingent of Iron Wolves. How the hell did her weak-willed daughter know she was there? They’d followed the tracking device inside the little wolf they’d set up, knowing Kellen would close ranks, and make Breezy and her
mate
stay at the clubs apartments. They thought it would be safer, but Sandy knew better. With the help of the McCartneys, they had access to the ductwork above, had already mapped out the layout, and were prepared. Once they had injected what the idiots thought was just a paralytic into Breezy, but actually had a microscopic tracking device inside as well, she had confirmation. Poor dumb Breezy had no clue she was being tracked even as she ran. All Sandy had to do was get back to the van and find out where she’d ran to.
“Pull back, and for all your sakes, you better hope that bitch of a daughter of mine doesn’t get outside your tracking area.” They’d told her she didn’t need the wide range device, and she’d listened. If she ran more than five miles away, then they’d lose her from their sights. She had to hope she was too stupid to leave the safety of her pack.
They scrambled back, uncaring of the noise or damage they were doing to the Iron Wolves’ club as they exited the way they came in. They wouldn’t be coming back anyhow. She glanced at the unconscious forms of her husband and sons, seeing their broken and bloody bodies, and wondered if she was making a mistake in letting them live. A sigh escaped her, but she didn’t give the final order to make the kill.
For a moment she wanted to run back and lick the faces of all three, she turned and raced away. She liked her life the way it was. She was alpha, leader of the pack, and they would ruin it.
Sandy hit the ground with grace, bent and picked up the bags they’d discarded earlier beneath some bushes. “Let’s roll. If she gets too far ahead, I’ll kill you all.” Her voice was barely controlled. “You two shift and track.” She held up a shirt they’d taken from the room Breezy had been in. Each man sniffed, then without an ounce of modesty ripped off their clothes and shifted. The last three men with her, filed into the vehicle they’d stashed and powered up the location. She saw the little red dot that showed her daughter’s location. The little brat was indeed running, and running far. “We need to hit the road. She’s already close to three miles away.”
Craig, the wolf behind the wheel nodded, waiting until they were all in, then fired up the powerful van. Stupid Iron Wolves had no clue they were right under their noses. Her human scientists had created a scent blocking perfume, along with many other things she was going to be able to use in order to take over the worthless pack, if she decided to let any of them live. She couldn’t wait to look Breezy in the eyes and watch the life drain from them.
****
X
an’s entire body froze at the calm voice of his mate in his head. He knew she was trying to keep him from freaking out. He tore the throat out of the wolf who’d jumped on his back, looking around for Kellen, shocked to see all the carnage surrounding them.
Rowan’s team had come in and come in hard. This wasn’t a small pack who wasn’t prepared, nor were they a friendly group willing to make peace. They were trained to kill, and believed there should only be one, and they were it.
He dodged a fist aimed at his head, snapping the arm at the elbow, a satisfied grin on his half-wolven face. “Motherfucker, you should have stood down when given the chance.” His words came out garbled. Xan jerked the man’s body in front of him, letting the bullets from an enemy hit him, using the body as a shield. He picked the lifeless body up and launched him at the man, following with preternatural speed, roaring as he lashed out with his claws.
By the time he was finished, Xan felt like he stood in a river of blood and bodies. Looking down it truly appeared that way. He turned in a circle, cuts and bruises marred his body. “My mate needs me. I’m gone. Anyone going with me can come, or be left behind.”
“Me and my team will stay here and get this place under control,” Kayan said.
Kellen and the rest of the Iron Wolves nodded, then turned and ran back to their vehicles.
“Somehow they got into the club, Xan. They’ve found your in-laws in one of the unused apartments. There’re in pretty bad shape, but will live. We’ve got our best trackers on it. Breezy left through the tunnels instead of going for help.” Kellen’s voice held a note of admiration mixed with anger.
Xan didn’t wait for anyone to get in with him, firing his vehicle up, he did a quick U-turn. Headlights in his rearview reassured him Kellen was close behind. Their XVs had twin V10 engines, but his heart was still in his throat. If anything happened to Breezy before he could get to her, he didn’t think he could live. Correction, he didn’t want to live.
“
Breezy, where are you?”
When no immediate answer met his question, his wolf howled, fingers clenched on the steering wheel.
“
Xan, I’m fine. Well, running, but I’m somewhat safe. My mother was at the club. I heard her. I’ll never forget the sound of her enraged growls. It was her.”
The true fear in his mate’s words made him wish he was there to hold her. He never should have left her.
“
Where exactly are you, bella?”
The compound where the rogues had taken up residence was almost sixty miles away, but he figured he could make it back to the club within forty minutes or less. Fuck the police if they thought he was going to obey their speed limits. At this hour of the night, or morning if you were being technical, there weren’t many cars on the road.
“
I took off running from the club. I know I should have stayed within, but I thought if I left, then they’d leave everyone else alone. I’m sorry.”
Her voice cracked
.
When he got his hands on her fine ass he’d paddle her good. First, he needed to get to her. “
Which direction did you take?”
Gods, he hoped she hadn’t ran in the opposite direction. That would allow the enemy even more leeway in tracking her, and him even less chance of finding her first. He ground his teeth. At this rate he’d have no back molars.
“
I’m running toward the moon. I felt like that was the direction you were in.”
Exhaustion dragged at her tone.
“
Good girl. Last question, but keep our connection open. How long have you been running?”
Her answer would give him a better idea of how far she’d gotten.
“
Fifteen minutes or so. I’d say I’ve covered at least that many miles. My wolf isn’t happy with me.”
Yeah, he just bet they were both beyond exhausted. However, that meant he was less than fifteen to twenty miles away from her. He told her to head toward the highway, but to stay hidden in the woods, to zigzag her pattern and stay alert for any wolves, or humans. If his foot could pound the pedal through the floor then it would. “
I love you to the moon and back, Breezy. Without you on this earth, my life would be worthless. Stay safe for me, or there would be no reason for me to go on.”
“Damn you, Xan Carmichael. You’re gonna make me cry in my wolf form. Next time you say something so romantic, make sure we are together and human.”
“It’s a deal, only I’m going to make sure we are naked, and I’m buried balls deep inside you,” he growled.
“I’m holding you to that one.”
After relaying the conversation to Kellen, Xan kept his mind open with Breezy. When he judged the spot they would be close, he noticed a van parked alongside the road. The same type of vehicle that had been at the club and at the compound they’d just overtook. Without pausing to think, he turned the wheel, aiming straight for the side.
“
Kellen, I hope you got my back, bro. I’m pretty sure I’m about to ram a van full of either equipment from our enemies, or possible enemies. My rig is gonna take it out, then I’m going hunting.”
He didn’t wait for Kellen to give him permission, knowing the XV would plow through the van like a wrecking ball. The sound of his engine would be heard through their interior, but they’d not have enough time to do more than piss themselves. The thought brought a grin to his lips.
His vehicle jumped the curb crashing into the side, sending the lighter vehicle tumbling onto its side. Xan’s rig didn’t sustain a bit of damage except maybe a little scraping of paint. He heard the groans of injured from the wrecked vehicle, and was aware Kellen’s vehicle filled with his pack had already pulled up behind him. As he opened his door he’d already began shifting, tearing at his clothes.
He swung his head at the open door to see a man stumble out, blood dripping down his temple. The stench of human wafted off him. “Where is your alpha?” Xan looked the young man up and down, noticing the military outfit, the close cropped hair.
“You’re too late, mutt.” The man wobbled on his feet, falling onto his knees.
Xan leaped the distance between them. “What do you mean?” He gripped the young man by the throat.
The man swallowed audibly. “She went after the one we were sent to track. She took Blake with her. If the alpha doesn’t kill her, Blake will.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Xan snapped his teeth, letting the human know he wasn’t making idle threats.
“She was planning to kill us all.” He waved his hand at the vehicle.
Kellen stepped out with another human by the throat. “Seems they found a bomb in the interior set to blow them up. Damn mercenary bitch was going to kill these human men.”
Xan dropped the man he was holding. “I’m going after my mate.”
“Wait. They are tracking her with this.” Kellen’s prisoner held a small device, a red blinking dot moving rapidly. “The red one is your wolf, and the blue ones are the alpha and Blake.”
He grabbed the device, studied the locations, and wanted to roar in fury. He didn’t understand how they knew where Breezy was. His wolf growled with the need to be let off its tether.
“Go, I’ll secure them in my rig, and follow you. Go, now.” Kellen glared at the men cowering on the ground.
In a blink, Xan became the large blond wolf, racing toward his mate. Breezy’s mama may think she’s an alpha, but she’d never met him, nor had she fucked with his mate before. He wanted to howl, let them know he was coming, then decided stealth was the wiser option.
“
Breezy, they are tracking you. Are you safe?”
His life flashed before his eyes while he waited, but only seconds passed before she answered. “
I‘m fine. I may have only been a child when my mother left, but I learned early how to avoid her. She was not as stealthy as she liked to believe. Yes, she beat me to ribbons, but only because I was a kid. I didn’t hide from her. I’m not a seven year old now. At twenty-seven, I’ve learned a few things as well,”
she snarled.
He wanted to applaud her bravery, but she didn’t know what her mother had become. None of them truly knew. Plus Sandy Mattice wasn’t alone. The man named Blake was clearly not just a wolf, but he was someone the alpha bitch entrusted to help do her dirty work. “
Your mother isn’t alone. She has a wolf, who more than likely has no problem with doing whatever is asked of him. Do you understand what I’m saying, bella?”
Through their connection he could feel her anxiety. Hated to scare her, but that could keep her alive. “
Yeah. Meaning, she brought someone who she will take great pleasure in watching hurt me, or worse.”
It was the worse that they both knew would be something Breezy would want to die before. No woman wanted to be raped, beaten, and repeated. Sandy Mattice would rejoice in doing just that to her daughter. The being she should love above all others, but hated.
“
I am close, love. I feel it. Are you near the ravine?”
He kept his tone soothing.
“
Yes. I can hear the water. Up ahead I see the small cabin that had been used long ago by hunters. The one Kellen said he was going to make his Smoosh House.”
Humor laced her words.
Doing a quick scan and breathing deeply, he pushed his wolf faster. Only minutes separated them. “
Go to the cabin. I’m right behind you.”
He felt her love surrounding him through their link. Gods, but he loved her. Wanted to spend the rest of their lives showing her just how much, in every imaginable way possible. Of course, he’d have to paddle her ass for scaring the shit out of him. His wolf came to an abrupt halt, the large wolf staring at him through black eyes snarled. The fact he hadn’t smelled him before he was almost upon him, gave him pause.
Xan bared his fangs. They’d figure out how the others had masked their natural smells later. Now, he’d get to killing.
The other wolf dug his hind legs into the dirt below him, a telltale sign, one Xan would never make in battle.
Dark blond fur jumped, black claws and fangs aimed right for Xan’s throat. At the last moment, Xan rolled away, coming up on all fours, and counterattacked. The other wolf wasn’t as quick to land in the loose leaves and dirt, making it easy for Xan’s own claws to rake across the exposed underbelly.
He heard the satisfying cry of the wolf, turning to make another swipe or bite at any available part of him, he was shocked to find it bearing down on him. Xan twisted, barely missing the large fangs aiming for his throat.
The need to have the other man’s blood coating his throat consumed him. His world narrowed to ripping Blake limb from limb, before he’d ever allow him to touch what was his.