“Suspicious?” Cole asked.
“Just what I said. Odd people going in and out and sneaking around. It’s not that uncommon around here, but we’ve been sensing shifters we haven’t before.”
Anya put her hand on Cole’s back, her nails digging into his skin. He slowly let go of Tucker, wanting to touch Anya. If he didn’t, he wasn’t sure what his cat would do. He put his arm around her waist again and watched the polar write down a few notes then hand the piece of paper over to Anya.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re not going to come with us?” Cole asked. “If you’re so worried about the other shifters, then why won’t you come? Help us find the kids and kick this bastard’s ass.”
Tucker shook his head. “I have plans of my own.” He nodded at both of them. “Good luck.” With those cryptic comments, the guy walked away, leaving a nervous as hell Anya in Cole’s arms.
As soon as Tucker was gone, Anya turned in Cole’s arms and banged her head on his chest. “I want to go now. I want to run in there and get them. I don’t want to wait until dark. We’ve gotten through the SAU patrols so far, why can’t we try again?”
Cole tucked her hair behind her ear and rested his forehead on hers. “Anya, honey, as much as I hate to agree with that big, blond bastard, we got lucky so far.” He let out a sigh and ran his hands down her back. “We don’t know the area, and I won’t put my trust in anyone that quickly. Plus, my cat is telling me to stay behind for darkness. It would be smart.”
“I don’t want to wait. I want my babies.”
“I know. I want them back, too. And we’re going to get them. We just have to wait until it’s a bit darker. Then we’ll find them.”
He hugged her tighter, and she pushed at him as if realizing she’d been leaning on him in the moment. He didn’t let that bother him—much.
“I don’t know why that Unseen followed us, other than the fact that we were intruders in his territory.” She snorted. “It might not be his, but he claimed it just the same, didn’t he? Still. I’m grateful he came.”
Cole snorted. “Really? That asshole. He left. I’m here.” He shut his mouth quickly. Why the hell had he said that? He hadn’t meant to admit anything about that. Well, shit.
She rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air. “Shut up. I don’t want him, Cole. I am grateful that he took time out of his busy day of acting all broody and mysterious to find us and give us a lead. But I don’t want him,” she repeated. “I want you.”
His cat purred, and Cole stalked toward her. “Really? Prove it.”
She cupped his face and kissed him. Hard. Her teeth bit into his lip, and she pulled away, panting. He wasn’t far behind her.
“I’ll prove it. Later. When we’re safe and not out in the open.” She let out a breath.
“This isn’t over,” he said slowly, agreeing with her on the timing.
“Oh, don’t I know it.” She rolled her neck. “Now, let’s get ready to go find my babies. Because I’ll be damned if that asshole human who thought he could take advantage of me is allowed to breathe another day. I’m going to make him bleed and beg me for forgiveness, but I’ll never give it to him.”
And just like that, he fell in love with a momma bear.
Talk about timing.
Chapter 8
They followed Tucker’s directions, and Anya prayed they weren’t heading into a trap. It had taken over an hour for them to reach the place Tucker had suggested since they hadn’t wanted to park near the place and make noise. They’d left their vehicle at another location and walked to where Tucker had said the boys might be. They’d studied the building and exit strategies together before they even thought of going inside.
While she wanted to run in, claws out for her sons, she couldn’t until they’d figured out what to do and had formulated a plan. Just because the Unseen were shifters, didn’t make them Pack. That was something she would never forget. The secret of their existence had been drilled into her the day her brother had become the Foreseer, but she could also pray that there was a sense of good in the polar bear. She hoped that he truly wanted to help in his own way when it came to the lives of her children.
Her mind working overtime taking in her surroundings and trying to work through how they’d gotten there in the first place, she tried to focus on what was in front of her.
The cat who’d risked his life for her.
She ducked behind Cole as they stared at the seemingly abandoned warehouse. Her bear pushed at her—wanting not only the man in front of her, but also blood from whoever had dared to touch what was hers.
Cole hadn’t wanted her there in the first place. Oh, he may not have told her as much, but there was no way a dominant shifter like him would like seeing her there. She could feel the pull between them—one that she was going to ignore until they were back at the compound, safe with her children. Because of that pull, she knew the immense strength of Cole’s dominance. He might not want her there, but he knew she could handle herself and hadn’t made light of her coming with him. He hadn’t fought it or told her she didn’t have enough experience. Instead, he’d simply told her the plan and asked if she had any better ideas. Then he’d gone on this mission tonight and knew she would be by his side as he would be by hers. Instead of dwelling on all of that, she ignored it, focusing on the one thing that truly mattered.
Her children.
The place looked like it was literally standing on its last leg. Dark, dreary, and so old it had to have been ready to fall down before the virus hit. How it was still upright—ever so slightly leaning to the side—she didn’t know. The building was also the perfect place for Frank to set up shop. She hadn’t seen a single SAU patrol or police cruiser since they’d begun surveillance. As soon as the cure for the virus was discovered and people started getting well, according to Cole, humans had shifted their focus to other parts of the city and their own kind. They ignored what they didn’t understand, either letting it fall to neglect like this place or caging it out of sight like her people.
The government and authorities didn’t care what happened in this area.
No one would care that Frank was here.
No one but her and Cole.
“Can you scent them?” she asked. She couldn’t and it killed her. If Owen and Lucas had been there earlier, the rain and wind had washed away the scent. Her bear wasn’t even sure they were near and it worried her. What if this was just a place where random shifters met? Just because Cole had had a feeling earlier, didn’t mean it would come to pass. This could all be for nothing.
“Take a deep breath, Anya. You’re freaking yourself out.”
She did; annoyed she’d let herself get caught up in the vicious cycle of her doubt.
“Can you scent them?” she asked again, this time taking deep breaths to calm herself as much as possible. Controlling her bear was crucial right then.
“I can,” he whispered, his voice low, sure.
She gripped his arm and forced him to look at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I just caught the scent. We’re going down there, Anya. You’re not doing this without me. I’m not doing this without you. So this is what I can sense. There are shifters down there, but I can’t tell if they are moving or not. The wind isn’t picking that up. There’s also a group of humans down there. Seventeen I think.”
Anya cursed. “That could be Frank and whatever muscle he hired.” They were going on the assumption it was Frank at this point, but it was all they could do. “Cora said he was good at getting people to work for his cause—even if he’s on the run from the SAU.” He paused. “He tricked me, didn’t he?”
Cole reached for her hand and squeezed. Her bear brushed against her, wanting more of his touch. Again, she wouldn’t think too hard about that. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
“He’s a dead man.”
His promise soothed her more than she thought possible. She took a deep breath, calming he
rself as much as she could. “What’s the plan?”
Cole nodded toward a side door. “There’s an older window on the other side of that door that looks like it’s not connected to the room with the outside entrance. At least that’s what I can tell from here. I don’t want to use the door because I can scent humans by each of them. If we go through the window, we can take them by surprise at worst, sneak by them at best. We go in, follow the trail to the kids and get out.” He met her gaze and frowned. “I know we want Frank dead right now, but…”
She nodded, knowing he was right, even if it killed her. “But if it’s a choice between his death and the lives of my children, Owen and Lucas come first. Always.”
“Always.”
He kissed her quickly then moved down the alley toward the warehouse. She followed, her senses on alert. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and her heart raced. She may have fought other shifters in battles for dominance and hierarchy, but she’d never been trained for this. Cole, it seemed, had. She’d follow his directions and try not to let her heart lead her. It wouldn’t be smart to do anything other than that. He looked over his shoulder as he stood under the window.
“Ready?” he mouthed.
She nodded, her bear ready to shift when needed. He opened the old window that didn’t have a lock and jumped through. She followed when he gave the signal, landing on her feet with a quiet thud. She wasn’t as graceful as he was by far since he had the advantages of a cat and she tended to lumber like a bear. She didn’t think anyone had heard her though. If the shifters Cole had scented were working for Frank or whoever was down there, it might be a problem, but she didn’t know. If the shifters were caged…then it was a whole different problem.
The place was hot despite the cooler temperatures outside and smelled of mold and death. The idea chilled her skin even in the cloying heat. She moved closer to Cole and all hell broke loose. Four men came through the open doorway, masks on their faces and tranq guns in their hands. Cole lashed out, taking two down. She growled, jumping on one while using her claws to take out another. The coppery scent of blood filled the air, and her bear relished it. She took them down, not killing them, but they wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon, that was for sure.
Four more men came in, drawing their tranqs. She rolled out of the way as one shot at her, the dart narrowly missing her face. She roared, loud enough to rattle the old windows in the building, but not loud enough to draw the attention of anyone on the outside. She knew better than that. She fought off two of the men, but as soon as she looked over at Cole, who had three guys fighting him, she felt the pinprick.
She looked down at the dart in her arm and licked her lips, her tongue already numb. She fell to her knees, her body going weak. Her knees ached from the impact, but she hadn’t been able to move to soften the blow. Cole screamed her name, but she couldn’t make out his face. Her vision grew bleary and she knew she’d failed.
She’d failed herself.
She’d failed Cole.
She’d failed her sons.
Anya blinked herself awake and jolted at the feel of shackles around her wrists. She pulled on them, the metal digging into her skin. Her body felt heavy, as if she were trying to come out of a deep sleep and couldn’t quite do it.
“You’re awake.”
She knew that voice. She’d once let the owner of that voice into her home and into her heart. Or perhaps she wasn’t truthful about the heart part. She’d fallen for pretty lies and a smile that dug deep. Well, fuck that.
She growled at Frank as he walked into her line of sight. He tilted his head as he studied her, his face drawn. He wore his precise tie and shirt, a pristine, white lab coat over his clothes. He smelled of blood, but whose, she didn’t know. The fact that she didn’t see spatters on his clothing worried her. What had he been doing?
“Keep growling, Anya. You’re an animal, caged and useless. Well, perhaps not useless. I’ll use you to further my experiments. And the brats you birthed will help me, as well.”
Her bear roared, clawing at her, but she kept silent. She pulled at her shackles and felt blood seep down her skin as the metal tore her flesh. She snapped at him, knowing if she shifted right then, she’d lose her hands. The metal around her wrists wouldn’t conform when she shifted, but it might be worth it.
Only she didn’t know where her boys were, and she needed them safe before she killed the bastard in front of her.
“Where are my sons?” she bit out. Her teeth elongated slightly and she sucked in a deep breath, willing them to go back to normal. No shifting. Not yet.
Frank shook his head, looking a little more haggard than he had all those years ago but still fucking smug. She wanted to rip that smile right off his face.
“You don’t get to ask questions.” He gestured toward the corner, and she turned.
It was only by sheer force of will that she didn’t react to the sight. Cole lay on a metal table, blood pooling at his sides. He had his head turned toward her, his eyes glassy with pain. God, he looked so pale. Frank had cut him up, and Anya was damn sure it wasn’t just for science. The butcher wanted to play. Rivulets of blood and who knew what else trailed down his body. Frank had sliced into his chest and sides, and perhaps even his legs from the blood on Cole’s jeans. None of the cuts looked too deep, but she couldn’t tell.
That must be the blood she’d scented on the man she’d once let touch her. Frank must have changed his clothes while she’d been out of it thanks to the tranq.
Her body shook at the thought of what Owen and Lucas were going through. Bile filled her mouth and her bear pressed at her. She turned toward the butcher that had once deceived her, barely holding back her rage.
“Where. Are. My. Sons?”
Frank’s eyes widened at her tone, and she saw a sliver of fear slide through them. Good.
“I haven’t started on their part of my work yet,” Frank said as he straightened his tie. She didn’t allow herself to show her relief. Not until they were in her arms and safe would she breathe again fully. He could be lying for all she knew. Frank loved to lie.
She inhaled again just as someone opened a door in the hallway.
There.
She knew those scents—a brush of paper, a spear of grass, and all little boy.
Tears pricked at her eyes, but she refused to cry. Her boys were here, just down the hallway. She rolled her wrists as much as possible, trying to find a way out of her chains. Frank studied her face for a moment, probably wondering why she wasn’t speaking, but fuck him. She’d find a way out of these restraints, find a way to get Cole off that table, and find a way to get her babies out of his hellhole.
Frank shook his head after a moment then walked toward Cole. She tugged at her chains again, trying to break free.
“I’ve studied a few feline shifters in the past, but I enjoy looking inside them to see if there is anything different between the species.” Frank picked up a scalpel and studied the light glinting off the blade.
“Funny thing, when we first heard about your kind, some thought if we opened you up, we’d find your animal half inside.” Frank pressed the blade along Cole’s skin and tilted his head again. “I never thought that, as it didn’t make sense biology-wise.” He started cutting. Anya screamed. “Only, nothing makes sense biology-wise with you filth.” He cut again. This time, Cole let out a groan as Frank sliced along his stomach.
“Stop it!” she yelled. “You’re not studying him. You’re playing.”
Frank didn’t pay attention to her, his concentration on his oh-so-precise cuts. “I’ve studied your blood, your genetics. I’ve studied it all. I don’t understand how to use that research to make a shifter of my own.”
“Bastard.” Bile filled her throat again as more blood pooled on the floor under Cole’s body. Shifters were born or made by the bite of a mate or Alpha. Humans couldn’t figure it out with science. Although, she knew they’d tried. The deaths of so many of her people were proof of
that.
“It’s going to be okay, Anya,” Cole rasped, his voice weak. How long had she been out? How much blood had he lost?
“I know,” she lied. Cole met her gaze, the pain in his eyes killing her slowly.
“You see, no matter how far I dig, I can’t find fur. I can’t find the genetic disposition that leads to shifting. It makes no sense. You make no sense.” He dug the blade in and Anya screamed, Cole’s voice mixing with hers.
The man she loved, the shifter she knew to be her mate blinked once then closed his eyes. His chest didn’t move, his breaths didn’t come.
She strained to hear a heartbeat but only heard the thundering of her own.
No. No. No. No. This couldn’t be happening. Cole was not dead. Her mate was not dead. She pulled at the chains once more, rage flowing through her like a river of lava. The restraints buckled at the wall, the sound of strained metal reaching her ears. So close to freedom. SO close to killing the human bastard who dared to touch what was hers.
Frank sighed. “Damn. I thought this one would last longer. I think I got too carried away.” He set the scalpel down then wiped his hands on a towel at his side. “I guess it’s time to start on my next project.”
Fear shot through her and she pulled again, blood pouring down her arms as the shackles cut into her wrists.
“Stop! Use me! Study me!”
Frank smiled at her and her world shattered. “No, I don’t think so. I’m going to study the reactions of a mother watching her children die.”
With that, he walked out of the room, humming a tune under his breath.
Tears slid down her cheeks as she pulled and tugged, trying to find a way out. “Oh, Cole. I’m so sorry.” She blinked, trying to see through her tears. “You shouldn’t have died for me. You should be up in your tree, sleeping like you want to be. I’m so sorry I pulled you with me.” She closed her eyes tightly. “I love you,” she whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear her.