Sable turned her head. Good. He didn’t want to see the tears in her eyes. In the back of his mind, he’d believed that once she was surrounded by her own kind she would realize that this is where she belonged. He knew now that would never happen. She already had a family she loved. He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Alex saw Ayala, stationed outside the room where the half-breeds slept. She bowed her head as he passed. Little high-pitched cries and howls stopped him in his tracks. He turned on his heel, walked back and entered the room.
Empty save for a dresser and a crib, the adobe walls painted white. The tiled floor offered the only color in the room.
Taken aback, Alex looked down at the babies, clad in diapers and nothing else.
They almost sound like pups. But with that blonde hair and those blue eyes they look nothing like Lycan whelps.
Doesn’t the mother realize that she’s brought demon half-breeds into the world?
Eventually they would let their human side take over and they’d turn into conquering bullies. Why should they live when his son had been murdered?
You’re no better than the monsters that killed your family.
He tried to shut out the thought, but it wouldn’t go away. Revisiting the painful void where he’d locked the memories of his wife and child almost brought him to his knees. Could he inflict the same hurt on someone else? Separate a mother from her children? What would his mate think of him if she saw him now?
“Ayala!” he screamed.
The girl came running into the room. She stood by the crib, shaking, head down.
“Take them to their mother before I change my mind.”
“Yes, Alpha.” The girl struggled to lift the squirming boys. Alex narrowed his eyes at her, and she got a firmer grip on them and made a hasty exit.
* * * *
Alex lay on his bed, thinking and staring into the dark. This wasn’t the outcome he’d planned for, but it was the one that would allow him to sleep at night.
Noah and Wade were loyal, but they were filled with guilt over what they’d done. What he made them do. He didn’t want to wait until morning to ease their minds.
Like a man possessed, he threw on a pair of trousers and padded out into the hallway.
Noah opened the door to his knock. Over his shoulder he saw Wade in their bed. Red-hot anger and jealousy almost made him turn away but Noah was right there, pulling him into the room.
“What’s wrong?” Noah turned a light on and Wade sat up, a worried look on his face. “The babies?”
Gods
. What had he turned into? His men actually thought he would hurt innocent babies. “They’re with their mother.”
“Then she’s agreed to do what you want?”
“No. I changed my mind. I don’t want her here.”
“I don’t understand. What are you going to do?”
“I’m sending her home, Noah. You and Wade take her and her spawn back to
Pennsylvania
tomorrow. Make sure she realizes it would endanger her family, as well as ours, if she reveals our location.”
Noah grabbed him and pulled him close. “Thank you.” He planted a chaste kiss on his lips.
Alex pulled back. “Noah, I—”
Loud voices and banging at the door stopped him from telling Noah how much he regretted what he’d done. The look on Noah’s face told him that he already knew.
* * * *
Janis had a bad feeling that it had all gone terribly wrong. The rescue party had rented a cheap motel room near the airport. Malcolm, filled with bitter bloodlust, had headed straight for the coordinates while they stayed behind. Only he, with his Lycan scent could get inside without being immediately detected. He’d promised not to take any foolish risks, just try to find out where the captives were being held and then call to tell them how to proceed. Only it was taking way too long.
Finally Jude voiced what she had been thinking. “It’s been hours. I don’t want to wait any longer.
Janis went ballistic when her brothers told her to stay in the motel with an unconscious
Roy
. She felt responsible for putting her family in danger and she threatened to follow on her own if they didn’t take her. They finally agreed. Each one wore something of
Roy
’s, hoping it would disguise their scent. Janis took the gun Jude offered, hoping she wouldn’t need to use it.
They parked a good distance from the site and walked, hoping their black clothing would offer some camouflage in the darkness. Janis thought she’d stepped back in time when the adobe pueblos appeared in her view. As they got closer, the multi-story housing structure reminded her of an apartment complex with connecting units.
Jonas had them stop to reassess their plan. What plan? Her brothers were acting for her sake. She knew they were winging it. What could they do against an army of men who could turn into wolves?
Janis swallowed her fear. There was no place for it here. They needed to keep their wits about them. The stakes were too high.
From where they hid behind a boulder, they could make out a lone figure standing guard. Jonas suggested taking him hostage. He crept off to scout the surrounding area and check for other watchdogs.
Janis kept her eyes on the guard. Another man came outside and spoke to him then they both looked toward the boulder. It was time to move on. Where was Jonas? “Jude, let’s go,” she whispered. “Dammit. Answer me.” She turned and saw her brother on his knees, a gun barrel pointed at his temple. “Jesus God!”
Jude looked up, and she knew the other guards were behind her.
We’re going to die.
She could only hope Jonas had gotten away.
* * * *
The Lycans took their weapons and escorted them to the building at gunpoint. Janis and her brother were shoved into Sable’s room. Jonas was already there, holding her. It was a tearful reunion. Her brother had examined Sable and the babies from head to toe. Satisfied there were no signs of abuse, they finally questioned her, hoping they could find a way out. Janis feared for Malcolm. Would they kill one of their own?
Loud footsteps coming towards Sable’s room struck terror in Janis’s heart. The door opened, and Malcolm bruised and bleeding, was roughly shoved into the room at gunpoint. Four very large Lycans stood scowling at him. He must have put up a hell of a fight.
“Everybody get comfortable.” The larger of the men gestured with his gun. “Have a seat.”
Janis sat trembling on the bed. Sable sat on the floor with Jude and Jonas while Malcolm remained standing.
“What do you intend to do with us?” Jude asked.
“That’s up to the Alpha,” he sneered. “But we don’t have much use for humans here.”
Sable snarled at him. She looked like she might leap on him and try to tear him apart, but Jonas held her back.
Janis shut her eyes and directed a silent prayer heavenward. When she opened them, a tall, dark man in black leather pants blocked the doorway. When he stepped inside, Noah and Wade followed.
Oh God! A pulse thrummed deep in her womb, an aching desire to be filled. She stared at them, surprised at the sudden heat their appearance kindled in her. Tamping down her arousal, she hardened her heart. Flights of sexual fantasy were indulgences she couldn’t afford, not when her family was at the mercy of these animals.
“Janis,” Wade said, and started toward her, but one glance from the taller man stopped him in his tracks. Noah stared at her, his expression flat.
The tall man scrutinized her, and she glared back, determined not to cower in front of him.
The men with the guns acknowledged their leader by nodding, but they kept their weapons trained on Malcolm and her family.
The Alpha turned his attention to Malcolm. “Hello, brother.”
Malcolm showed his teeth. “I have no brothers.”
“And here I thought you came to join my pack.”
“I came to rescue my family.”
“Then the she-wolf is yours?”
“Sable is the sister of my dead first-mate.”
The Alpha smiled grimly at him. “And who is the second-mate?”
Malcolm kept his silence.
“This one?” The Alpha tilted his head toward Janis. “So you can make blond-haired sons, too?”
Malcolm said nothing.
Janis snuck a look at Noah. He was glaring at Malcolm, and one corner of his mouth curled, revealing his teeth. Wade did the same.
The Alpha looked from one to the other. He took it all in and approached Janis. He sniffed the air around her and lifted her chin with his forefinger. “I think not. She’s already been claimed, and by more than one wolf. Maybe I’ll let them keep her for a pet.”
“You son of—” Jude started to rise, but one of the men put a gun to his head. Sable cried out and pulled him back.
Janis snuck a look at Noah. She needed to know what would happen to them. Maybe she could talk to him on a personal level. If only she was better at reading people. His expression didn’t reveal much, but she had to try. “Are you going to kill us?”
Noah looked shattered. He took a step toward her. “Janis, I would never hurt you. Please believe me.”
“If you care anything for me, please don’t hurt my family.” Her voice broke and her eyes misted.
Wade came closer. He put a hand out to touch her, but she pulled back. The hurt in his eyes just about killed her. “I promise no one will be harmed.” The words were for her, but he looked daggers at the Alpha.
Common sense dictated that she question whatever they said. She’d be a fool to believe any of them. And yet all her instincts told her she could trust Noah and Wade.
Malcolm snarled and approached them.“Let’s make a deal,”
“And what can you offer me?” The Alpha turned to Malcolm, grinning. He seemed to be enjoying this.
“Your doctor. I’ll trade him for my family.”
“Your she-wolf is more valuable to me. She can give me many pups. Between us, we can rebuild our dying race.”
“If you touched her, I’ll kill you.” Jonas struggled to rise. Sable held him back and grabbed Jude when he made a move.
“No one touched me,” she cried. “I swear it.”
The Alpha watched them impassively. Malcolm’s low growl brought the Alpha’s attention back to him. “She already has a family. You have no right to her. The old laws would have you punished.”
“Thanks to the humans, there are no old laws, nor elders to enforce them. We make our own laws here.” The Alpha eyed Janis up and down like a piece of meat. “Here’s my deal. Leave the blonde woman and the rest of you can go.”
“No.” Sable jumped up. “Let them all go, and I’ll stay willingly.”
“The hell you will,” Jonas yelled. “Nobody is staying.” He and Jude jumped up and flanked Sable.
The Alpha turned to Noah and Wade. “The disposition of the blonde female is entirely up to you.”
Janis looked from one to the other. The men seemed too shocked to answer.
“Think about it.” The Alpha turned to his guards. “Keep them here. We’ll make arrangements for them to leave tomorrow when we get our doctor back. I’ll find another room for this one.” He nodded at Janis. “Wade, Noah, come with me.”
“Alpha.” Noah stood his ground. “You said—”
“I said come with me.” His face darkened. “We need to talk.”
Chapter Fourteen
Janis held Sam while Sable nursed Max. Hot tears welled up. She might never see her nephews again. Or her brothers.