As they began scrambling to keep up, my breath whooshed out of my lungs as I passed the office. The new manager sat sleeping in the chair. Or at least I hoped he was sleeping.
I hit the new reinforced steel door, entering the code I’d been given, and ran through. An unholy series of growls behind me had my wolf growling in response. I recognized the sound. My eyes narrowed. Retribution for past pain had my wolf snarling, but the human in me pushed the animal back.
I fought my animal side, making her listen to the human, not the beast-crazed anger inside. The twists and turns of the newly made tunnels were dark, sparsely lit, but I was sure-footed as I ran. Coming to an end, I felt around for the keypad, trying toremember the exit code. I wondered if it was smart to leave the safety of the compound and the numbers of my pack, but again, the thought of all the people I could be saving kept me going forward.
I knew that growl and the damage the crazed bitch could inflict. For twenty years, I had lived in fear of my mother’s return. Why now? I didn’t understand why my own mother hated me. A mother should never do what my own had. After a few years, I’d come to terms with the fact that my egg donor was batshit crazy and tried to forget. A hard thing when you have the constant reminder of scars lacing your back.
Taking a deep breath, I entered the code and pushed the door open. Woods covered all sides of the entryway. A deep inhale, and I smelled nothing but trees and vegetation. I tossed my clothes off, leaving them in the entrance to the tunnel, and shifted quickly. If my mama wanted to chase me down, then she’d have to do it on all fours. Gods, I had no plan. Xan, I wanted my mate. Our home was too far, and I didn’t know where he had gone, or how long it would take him to get back to me. I promised myself I’d never be a coward, but until I knew what I was facing, or how many, there was only one thing to do. Stay alive.
I snarled. I’d only brought a handful of my best guards with me, leaving the rest to fight what I knew would be a full contingent of Iron Wolves. How the hell did my weak-willed daughter know I was there? We’d followed the tracking device inside the little wolf we’d set up, knowing Kellen would close ranks and make Breezy and her mate stay at the club’s apartments. We thought it would be safer, but I knew better.With the McCartneys’ help, we had access to the ductwork above, had already mapped the layout, and were prepared. Once we had injected what the idiots thought was just a paralytic into Breezy but actually had a microscopic tracking device inside as well, I had confirmation. Poor dumb Breezy had no clue she was being tracked even as she ran. All I had to do was get back to the van and find out where she’d run 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 me I didn’t need the wide range device, and I’d listened. If she ran more than five miles away, then we’d lose her from our sight. I had to hope she was too stupid to leave the safety of her pack.
We scrambled back, uncaring of the noise or damage we were doing to the Iron Wolves’ club as we exited the way we came in. We wouldn’t be coming back anyhow. I glanced at the unconscious forms of my husband and sons, seeing their broken and bloody bodies, and wondered if I was making a mistake in letting them live. A sigh escaped me, but I didn’t give the final order to make the kill.
For a moment, I wanted to run back and lick the faces of all three. I turned and raced away. I liked my life the way it was. I was alpha, the leader of the pack, and they would ruin it.
I hit the ground with grace, bent and picked up the bags we’d discarded earlier beneath some bushes. “Let’s roll. If she gets too far ahead, I’ll kill you all.” My voice was barely controlled. “You two shift and track.” I held up a shirt we’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 me filed into the vehicle we’d stashed and powered up the location. I saw the little red dot that showed my 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 we were all in, then fired up the powerful van. Stupid Iron Wolves had no clue we were right under their noses. My human scientists had created a scent-blocking perfume, along with many other things I could use to take over the worthless pack if I decided to let any of them live. I couldn’t wait to look Breezy in the eyes and watch the life drain from them.
My entire body froze at the calm voice of my mate in my head. I knew she was trying to keep me from freaking out. I tore the throat out of the wolf who’d jumped on my back, looking around for Kellen, shocked to see all the carnage surrounding us.
Rowan’s team had come in and come in hard. This wasn’t a small pack that 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.
I dodged a fist aimed at my head, snapping the arm at the elbow, a satisfied grin on my half-wolven face. “Motherfucker, you should have stood down when given the chance.” My words came out garbled. I jerked the man’s body in front of me, letting the bullets from an enemy hit him, using the body as a shield. I picked the lifeless body up and launched him at the man, following with preternatural speed, roaring as I lashed out with my claws.
By the time I was finished, I felt like I stood in a river of blood and bodies. Looking down, it truly appeared that way. I turned in a circle, cuts and bruises marring my body. “My mate needs me. I’m gone. Anyone going with me can come or be left behind.”
“My team and I 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. They’re in pretty bad shape, but they 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.
I didn’t wait for anyone to get in with me before firing my vehicle up. I did a quick U-turn. The headlights in my rearview mirror reassured me that Kellen was close behind. Our XVs had twin V10 engines, but my heart was still in my throat. If anything happened to Breezy before I could get to her, I didn’t think I could live. Correction, I didn’t want to live.
“Breezy, where are you?”When no immediate answer met my question, my 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 my mate’s words made me wish I were there to hold her. I 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 I figured I could make it back to the club within forty minutes or less. Fuck the police if they thought I 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 I got my hands on her fine ass, I’d paddle her good. First, I needed to get to her.“Which direction did you take?”Gods, I hoped she hadn’t run in the opposite direction. That would give the enemy even more leeway to track her, and me even less chance of finding her first. I ground my teeth. At this rate, I’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 I need you to keep our connection open. How long have you been running?”Her answer would give me 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, I just bet they were both beyond exhausted. However, that meant I was less than fifteen to twenty miles away from her. If my foot could pound the pedal through the floor, then it would.“Head toward the highway, staying hidden in the woods until I get to you. Zigzag your route as much as possible. I know I don’t have to tell you to keep alert for both humans and wolves, but my instincts are screaming at me. 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.”
