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"Who, Elroy, who is doing this?" Andy was becoming tense but forced himself to stay calm. His mate could feel intense emotions, and he didn't want to alarm Dallas.
"Ford and a few of the others. They're really mad that you left. Ford said he would kill me if you didn't come back and explain yourself to the pack. He said Billy was a weak assed leader for letting you go to the vampires." Elroy began to cry, and it tore a hole through Andy.
"Don't cry, Elroy. I'll fix this, don't worry." Andy tried to soothe him as best he could.
"Why does he have to be so mean? I tried to fit in, I tried to be what everyone expected, and still, they treat me like garbage." Elroy broke down.
"They're the garbage, Elroy, no you." That was the end of the call. Someone grabbed the phone from Elroy and hung up, but not before telling Andy that Elroy's death would be on his head. Shit, he wasn't sure what to do, but he knew he had to get to the encampment before anything happened to Elroy, and he needed to find Billy.
Thoughts of Dallas entered his mind, but he didn't want to involve him in something like this. He couldn't show up there with a posse of vampires that wouldn't be right, and besides, Ford would kill Elroy out of pure spite if he did. Ford was really fucked up and saw everything as an affront to him personally. He couldn't take the chance; besides, he could usually talk these people down. He had to try.
He thought about leaving a note but decided he'd text Dallas as soon as he reached Cougar lands and let him know what was going on. Dallas knew the power of duty and responsibilities, he would understand.
After considering his options, Andy set off through the gardens rather than taking the roadways. It was quicker and would require less explanation as to where he was going. He needed to get there as soon as possible for Elroy's sake. He met a few guards along the way, each was pleasant and courteous, not holding him up or asking questions. He noticed Dallas' friend outside a cottage on the grounds not far from the edge between the manicured gardens and the tall trees.
Andy tried to go unnoticed, but he wasn’t sure if he’d been successful. If Archer saw him, he’d probably notify Dallas. Andy put on the speed as soon as he entered the large trees, he had to reach the encampment before anyone had the chance to stop him. He needed to make sure Elroy was okay and that his brother was safe.
"Ford is standing just outside the entrance to the encampment. It looks like he is waiting for someone or something. He has several men with him that appear to be patrolling." Jason reported.
"Keep an eye on them and spread out to see if you can discover what they're waiting for," Dallas instructed.
"Will do," Jason stated and ended the report.
"Billy may already be dead." Silas made the comment that Dallas did not want to deal with. Dallas nodded but did not respond. "Ford is not a leader; if he takes over, Master DuCane will intercede. Ford is bloodthirsty and lacks self-control. His leadership would be disastrous on many levels." Silas stood and walked over to stare out his office window while Dallas remained seated.
Silas was surprised when his phone rang again since Jason had not been expected to report for an hour. "Hello, what is it?" He barked.
"A young cougar shifter just ran up to the encampment, and Ford grabbed him by the throat." Just then, Dallas' phone rang. Seeing that it was Archer, he stepped away and answered.
"Hey, I thought you might like to know that your beloved was just seen leaving the grounds heading in the direction of cougar territory. Is there a reason he might be going home?" Dallas felt his heart drop and every muscle stiffen at the implication of the two calls. He pulled the phone away from his ear and simply stated I have to go and ran from the room.
"Dallas, Dallas!" Archer was yelling at him, but his focus was Andy. He had to reach his beloved.
"He's going to die if he goes there," Dallas yelled as he raced from the Palace and out through the garden.
"I'll go with you," Archer stated and hung up. Dallas was beside himself with fear and dread and started running faster than he had ever run in his life. He had to get there before the worst happened.
He was clearing the gardens and heading through the trees when Archer appeared beside him and tossed him a firearm; they said nothing, just kept running. Dallas could think of nothing except getting to his beloved. All other considerations were gone, and his entire being was singularly focused. They made it to the clearing before the encampment in record time and did not stop to confer with Jason or the soldiers keeping watch.
Ford stood there with his grimy hands around Andy's throat, and he had Andy on his knees. Dallas felt himself blacking out with rage as his vampire took complete control. His eyes were blood red, and his face took on a fearsome contortion. Ford was a dead man.
"Stop, or I will kill him," Ford screamed, but it was too late for him. Vampires were faster than Ford's intent to do harm. Just as he brought a blade to Andy's throat, Dallas was on him, ripping him away from his beloved and slamming him into the ground. Archer and Jason took out the others, ending them before they could help Ford.
Andy rolled away, choking and clutching at his throat. One of the soldiers gathered him up and got him out of the fray and away to safety. Archer stood with the others and watched while Dallas took his time letting Ford get to his feet, hearing him call to his men to help him kill this fucking vampire, but no one headed his call.
"Too bad Billy wasn't here to help you." Dallas calmly said as he grabbed him by the throat, squeezing and twisting, bringing him to his knees as he had done to Andy. "It's never wise to kill those who you may have to depend upon later. What a fucking disappointment you are, Ford, a fucking waste of space." Dallas was so enraged that his every movement seemed out of body, and his overwhelming need for vengeance left him with an eerie sort of calm.
He held Ford's lunatic gaze as he continued to twist his wrist until there was an audible snap, which was the breaking of Ford's neck, and then he jerked his hand to the right and tore out his throat. The blood flowed freely, covering his hand and Ford's front and soaking into the ground. He held him for a few seconds, making sure the bastard was dead, before throwing him across the way and slamming his body into a tree. Ford was finished and no longer a threat to his beloved.
The rage drained away slowly until he turned and looked at his beloved standing with Archer and the others. Andy was okay; he was alive, and he was running toward him. Dallas caught him in his arms and held him so tightly neither could breathe. He eased his grip after assuring himself that Andy was well and safe, but he still held him secure in his arms.
"I'm sorry I didn't speak with you first." Andy began. "Elroy called me, and they were going to kill him and Billy if I didn't return. I didn't know what to do, but I couldn't let them die."
"It's okay, sweetheart." Dallas ran his hands over Andy's body, checking every inch for pain or injury. "I understand, but don't ever do that again. We are stronger together than apart." He punctuated that statement with a hard, exacting kiss.
"I'll never do it again, I promise." He said between sniffles and gasps. "We have to find Elroy and Billy. I think Ford hurt them. Please help me find them." He urged.
"We'll find them, my love, don't worry." He said, and as they turned, they saw Archer leading both Elroy and Billy out of the encampment. They were definitely worse for the wear, but they were both alive, and that's what mattered. They would heal.
