Wolf

Wolf arrived at the Palazzo hotel shortly before midnight and wandered toward the desk. He stopped short when he caught scent of a breed he hadn’t smelled in a few years.

“Jackals,” he murmured.

He turned to see one of the security guards eyeing him, so he casually continued to the desk. Jackals weren’t a common breed of Shifter, they stuck to the desert regions. Where most of the breeds had learned to get along, the Jackals were an anathema. The breed tended to have their own agenda and didn’t care how they attained it. Wolf wasn’t surprised to find them holed up in Vegas, with all its vices.

“Hello sir. Welcome to the Palazzo.”

“Thank you. I am meeting my girlfriend here, but I think her cell phone died. Can you let me know what room Bella Roulant is in?” Wolf gave the woman behind the desk his best smile, the one that usually got him whatever he wanted.

The woman smiled back as she typed on her keyboard. She then frowned.

“I’m sorry sir. It appears she checked out three days ago.”

Shit. Wolf’s worry instantly spiked.

“Is it possible for me to check the room she was in? She hasn’t contacted me to tell me if she went to another hotel. And there’s been no other charges on our account. I’m concerned something has happened to her.” Wolf attempted to get the woman to sympathize with him.

“I’m sorry, sir. There are other guests in that room now, and we have no record of her leaving any belongings behind,” the woman said with a frown.

“Thank you.”

Wolf headed to the casino, since that’s where he assumed Ella went last. From the corner of his eye he noticed the jackal guard approach and converse with the desk attendant. On his way to the casino he scented several more of the breed.

“This place is lousy with the bastards,” he growled under his breath.

Wolf toured the casino. He could tell Ella had been in the casino, but her scent was old. Wolf spun around when the scent of jackal doubled.

“Sir, we suggest that you find another establishment. Perhaps the reservation casino would be more to your taste,” the jackal on the right suggested.

“Look, we both know who we are. I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m looking for my girlfriend, who went missing.”

“The desk informed us, but she is no longer here. We suggest you leave,” the male repeated.

Several more jackals arrived, making it six against one. Wolf wasn’t looking to start a fight, but he wasn’t about to just leave with no answers. Before Wolf could reply he was tackled from behind.

“Is this fucking necessary,” Wolf snarled, as his arms were wrenched behind his back and he was marched to a rear exit.

He would’ve fought back, but he couldn’t hunt for Ella if he was locked in jail for the night. Wolf expected to be tossed out, not thrown in a van, and knocked out.

 

Bastian

Bastian took a giant swig from his tumbler of scotch, blinked a few times, then picked up his cards and stared at them again. His hand started as a flush. Now the ink on the ten of spades looked like it had been smeared. H-E-L-P was scrawled across it, in wavering letters. Bastian placed his cards back down on the table, and finished off his scotch. He grabbed the bottle and refilled his glass.

“So, what have you got?” Coso asked.

Bastian took another large swallow. He stared at Coso, Drake, and Ella, then hesitantly grabbed his cards and flipped them over. Bastian’s eyes widened when he saw the ten of spades was back to normal.

“A flush. Nice hand,” Coso commented.

Drake pushed the pile of cash toward Bastian. He sighed and shoved the cards to the middle of the table.

I’m losing it.

“Excuse me,” Drake said when his phone rang. The jackal stepped away and answered his cell.

“It may be time to call it an evening,” Bastian said with a shake of his head.

Maybe someone had laced his scotch with something. He reached toward his glass of water, and there it was again, H-E-L-P. This time the word was scrawled in the condensation on the glass.

Miss Roulant coughed, and he glanced up at her. Her face was passive, but she looked pointedly from him to his glass. She instantly looked away when Drake approached the table again.

What the fuck?

“I have a situation to attend to. Gentleman,” Drake bid them goodnight with a nod.

The jackal gripped the little brunette beneath her arm and escorted her from the table. Miss Roulant cast Bastian a quick glance as she was led from the garden. He couldn’t wrap his head around the conclusion he was coming to, regarding the odd plea for help, and where it came from.

Something fucking insane is going on. He picked up his cell and sent a text to his enforcer, AJ. Follow Drake.

Bastian didn’t know if he should mention this to Coso. The three heads of the local Shifter breeds had a tentative alliance. Bastian was sure that he and Coso were on solid ground, but Drake was a different matter. Bastian and Drake didn’t quite see eye to eye. Drake did things that brought them perilously close to being discovered, not to mention being an all-around prick.

What Bastian didn’t know, was if Coso felt the same about the jackal. Coso, the Nevada wolf pack alpha, was also a Paiute elder. His people treated the jackals like the misbehaving little brothers, their creation story portrayed them to be.

It’s probably best to not strain things with the wolf pack, till I know what the hell Drake is up to.

“Well like you said, it’s probably a good time to call it an evening,” Coso said as he stood.

Bastian nodded and walked with Coso back to his car, then watched the wolf take off. He then headed to the garage, and located the black sedan he drove when he wasn’t in the mood to be noticed.

“What’s the status?” Bastian asked when AJ, his enforcer, answered his cell.

“On One-Fifty-Nine, heading toward Red Rock Canyon.”

“I’m following you. Keep an eye on the female with Drake.”

“Yes sir.”

AJ texted Bastian directions, until the enforcer was forced to abandon his car and follow Drake on foot. Once Bastian dumped his sedan on the canyon access road, he tracked AJ’s phone through the White Rock Hills.

“What’s going on?” Bastian asked, when he finally caught up with his enforcer.

“It took me a minute to circle around down wind, but the jackal alpha and the female should be over that ridge.”

“What the hell is Drake doing out here?”

“This is his dump site,” AJ replied.

“It was a rhetorical question.” Bastian knew full well this was where Drake dropped his little problems. It was the strange female that made the situation weird. “We gotta get over there before Drake does something to that female. I think she was trying to get me to help her at the casino.” Bastian shook his head. He wasn’t about to admit how he thought she asked him for help.

Bastian and AJ had Drake’s car in their sights, and were working their way closer, when a second pair of headlights flashed, casting shadows off the surrounding hills. The duo paused as a cargo van pulled up behind Drake’s silver Trevita.

Who the fuck brings a car like that out on this shitty road?

Drake exited his car, as four of his men hauled a struggling guy from the van. Bastian was too far away to hear what was being said, but the headlights showed him all he needed to know.

“This can’t be good.” Bastian thought it was the girl who was in danger, but apparently, he was wrong.

The passenger side of Drake’s sports car flew open and Ella rushed out. Drake grabbed her before she made it to the van. A dozen shots rang out, striking the struggling man in the chest, and he dropped to the desert floor.

Ella’s blood curdling scream echoed off the hills, making Bastian’s hair stand on end, as the desperate wail pierced him. He felt a second of horror and awe, as the air warbled around Ella. An instant later everything erupted. The shockwave, riddled with debris, hit Bastian and AJ, knocking them backwards.

“What the hell?” AJ groaned.

“That’s what I’ve been saying all night.” Bastian sat up and attempted to shake off the stars swirling before his eyes.

When the dust settled, the scene of carnage that greeted him was impressive. The Trevita lay several yards away, having taken the brunt of the blast. The van wasn’t much better. The rear was caved in and it lay on its side. Bastian wasn’t surprised when the four jackals and Drake picked themselves up from where they’d been tossed by the blast. They looked like hell, bloody and tattered, but it took an awful lot to kill a Shifter.

What did surprise Bastian was the female, who lay unmoving in the center of a crater. What he’d witnessed was unbelievable. The Outsider had been at the epicenter of the blast, as if she were the bomb itself. And yet she lay there whole and unscathed.

There’s something unreal about that woman. Bastian wouldn’t have believed any of this, if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.

Drake gestured wildly toward his sports car, as he barked something unintelligible. The four underlings swiftly flipped the van back onto its chassis. The jackal alpha slung the unconscious woman over his shoulder, then got into the beat-up cargo van. Bastian was impressed when the thing actually started up. The jackals chained the mangled sports car to the tow hitch, then the whole pathetic outfit hobbled down the gravel road, disappearing into the hills.

“Good luck with that mess, Dick,” Bastian commented incredulously.

“What do you want to do about him?” AJ gestured to the body in the road.

“My night has been so fucked up, why not add body clean-up to the list,” Bastian replied, as he headed toward the road. When he reached the body of the black-haired male, he instantly scented wolf. “Ah shit. I better call Coso.”

“He’s not going to be happy.”

No kidding.

Bastian shook his head as he looked down at the wolf Shifter with blood covering his chest and stomach. Drake was walking on thin ice pulling a stunt like this. Bastian doubted Coso would be willing to overlook the murder of one of his own.

“He’s not our only problem. We need to do something about the woman.” Bastian was certain this mess centered around her.

 

Wolf

Unbelievable pain assailed Wolf. He attempted to surge forward, but couldn’t move, as agony ripped through his chest and gut. His torment swiftly took a backseat to a different form of terror, when the memory of Ella in the desert came flooding back.

The sight of Ella being manhandled by the mangy jackal gave Wolf the burst of energy he needed to break free of the bastards holding him. The sudden sharp pain in his chest and stomach, was nothing compared to Ella’s agonized scream. Wolf struggled to reach her, but his body refused to obey his command. As he dropped to the ground, his eyes were riveted to her distraught face. The ground began to vibrate as Ella’s power washed over him. All he saw was Ella as the world around him exploded, and everything went dark.

“Ella,” Wolf mumbled incoherently. “I need to reach Ella. They have her,” he tried to explain, but the Shifters he scented couldn’t possibly hear him over the droning voices.

Why are people praying?

Wolf cracked open his eyes to see the blurry form of a man leaning over him.

“He’s coming around again. Hold him still,” the figure spoke.

“His name is Wolf. He’s the Midwest alpha.”

Wolf heard his name and tried to focus on the other man. He thought he recognized the wolf Shifter, but couldn’t place him. 

“I’m not sure how to explain this,” the first male spoke. “The bullets clearly struck several vital organs. But it looks like the tissue was knit back together, and the slugs were beginning to push back out.”

“He’s lucky we’re blessed with the ability to heal fast.”

“Not this fast, Coso. This level of damage should have killed him instantly. It’s almost as if the hand of Isa intervened.”

“The jackals have gone too far.” Coso shook his head grimly. “I’ll contact Bastian. He found a number he recognized in Wolf’s phone.”

Wolf felt himself teetering on the cusp of death. Ella was the only thing that kept him tethered to his battered body, as the male continued to dig the bullets out of his gut. But despite his attempt to fight it off, Wolf succumbed to the overwhelming pain, and again drifted into oblivion.

 

Bastian

Bastian recognized his cousin, Cain, as he pulled up to the airport. There was no missing the pack of bikers gathered on the curb. Bastian smiled as he watched the other travelers avoid them like the plague. Bastian wore suits, where his cousin was more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. But they both had a love for bikes.

It must be a Shifter thing.

“That’s an awfully fancy cage, Cuz.” Cain gestured to the limo, as he gripped Bastian in a bear hug.

“It’s still going to be a tight fit with you overgrown bastards.”

“It’s been too long.” Trip clapped Bastian on the back.

“It has. It really has,” Bastian agreed with a nod. The three of them used to spend summers together when they were teens. “Life has gotten hectic.”

“You’re telling me,” Cain replied. “Meet Iris.” Cain wrapped his arm around a cute brunette Outsider with a belly as big as a watermelon.

“Hello. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Iris reached out her hand.

“It’s a pleasure. Cain, you have been busy.” Bastian gestured at Iris’ belly.

Cain wagged his brows as he gave Bastian a giant grin.

“And this is Marisol, and her grandmother, Abuela,” Trip introduced a little Latino Outsider and a sweet but gnarled looking elderly woman.

“Hola. It is nice to meet you.” Marisol hugged him, followed by the old woman.

Bastian was a bit shocked to see the two Shifters had settled down, and with Outsiders no less. The last time he visited the Reapers, Cain and Trip were drowning in more tail than a man could want. Bastian didn’t figure either of them planned on doing the family thing anytime soon. And when they did, Bastian was certain they would’ve landed on females who were a little rougher around the edges. Except Iris and Marisol hardly looked like club bunnies.

“They’re a little out of your league, aren’t they?” Bastian teased Cain and Trip.

“You have no fucking idea how right you are,” Cain chuckled.

As everyone loaded up their bags and got into the limo, Cain introduced Wolf’s sister and his pack.

“Thank you for rescuing my brother.” Char’s lip quivered.

“We are in your debt.” The wolf Shifter named Tony gave Bastian a firm hand shake.

“I’m just glad I was able to help. We’re heading straight to tribal lands. Coso said Wolf made it through surgery.”

Char nodded in relief. Iris and Marisol flanked Wolf’s sister, hugging her tight as they settled into the limo.

“You said over the phone you pulled Wolf out of the desert, after witnessing him get shot up. Do you know any more?” Cain asked.

“I do, but it might be best if I wait till we reach Coso’s place. This is going to take some explaining.”

Bastian glanced at the Outsiders in the limo. He wasn’t prepared to talk about Shifter business in open company, not to mention the other bizarre shit he witnessed last night. Everyone was quiet as they headed out of town. No doubt they were tired after the redeye flight.

Coso met the limo as they pulled up to his adobe ranch house.

“Coso, this is Char, Wolf’s sister.”

“Thank you for everything.” Char reached out and shook Coso’s hand.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it was under better circumstances. I expect your brother to rouse soon. He’s a stubborn one. He kept waking as my healer was removing the bullets.” Coso placed a comforting hand on Char’s shoulder, as he led everyone out of the Nevada heat.

“He is stubborn,” Char gave a wavering laugh.

“Something to drink?” Coso offered, once inside.

“Yes, please.” Bastian could use a drink, or several. “Can I talk around everyone?” he whispered to Cain.

“Yeah. Iris, Marisol and Abuela aren’t run of the mill Outsiders. Thanks.” Cain took the beer Coso extended.

Bastian looked to Coso, to confirm that he was comfortable talking around Outsiders. Coso nodded and took a seat at the end of the island. Bastian was glad everyone was here, because he didn’t think he could explain this craziness twice.

“As I told you over the phone, I saw Wolf get shot in the desert. What I didn’t say was that I think it happened because of a woman.”

“Wolf was looking for Ella. He tracked her to the Palazzo,” Char said as she popped the cap off her beer.

I knew it.

“That’s the girl Drake had with him last night at our card game,” Coso interjected.

“Oh god. You’ve seen Ella? Where is she?” Char looked from Bastian to Coso.

“She’s probably at the Palazzo.”

“Then we need to go get her,” Char insisted.

“It’s not that easy,” Coso interjected.

“The Palazzo is Drake’s stronghold. Under normal circumstances the jackal would fiercely protect his castle. But I have a feeling Drake would happily call in the whole of his clan to keep your friend,” Bastian related.

“Do you think he’s holding Ella for ransom? Wolf and I believe she came to Vegas to get money, fast, for her sister’s hospital bills,” Char frowned.

“If she got caught cheating Drake’s casino, it would explain why he’s holding her,” Coso added.

“You know that’s not why the jackals are keeping Ella,” Iris said to Bastian as she took the barstool next to him.

The pregnant brunette’s assertion surprised Bastian. His eyes widened as Iris continued to stare at him.

“What’s up, babe?” Cain pulled Iris’ feet into his lap.

“Nothing specific, just that Wolf’s girlfriend is gifted,” she replied thoughtfully. “But Bastian knows more about it than I do.”

Bastian’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

“Gifted how?” Coso asked, looking eager and intrigued.

“Aw fuck,” Trip laughed. “Poor bastard.”

Cain’s grin broadened as he gave Trip a conspiratorial look. Bastian really wanted to be let in on the joke.

“Mi Rey, what are you saying?” Marisol sauntered up to Trip. She ran her hand over his chest and Trip jumped, from the static she stirred up.

Iris and Cain snorted simultaneously.

“Hey! Easy there, Sparky.” Trip grinned as he tugged Marisol into his arms.

“I don’t think I understand. What do you mean by gifted?” Char asked.

“Yes please, enlighten us.” Coso sat on the edge of his seat.

“I can’t believe Wolf didn’t tell his family about us. I don’t know if I should be touched or offended,” Iris said to Marisol. “You’re better at demonstrations, if you don’t mind.”

“Si.” Marisol nodded and extended her hand.

“Do the snow globe,” Trip insisted, sounding as giddy as a kid on Christmas.

“Okay.” Marisol gave Trip a broad smile.

“Good thing you’re sitting,” Cain commented to Bastian.

Marisol opened her palm and they all watched as a blue ball of lightning emerged from her fingertips. Bastian’s mouth dropped open as he stared in awe at the orb.

“What the fuck?” Char stammered, expressing the same sentiment Bastian was feeling.

The shifting ball of lightning grew until it resembled a large bubble. If that wasn’t freaky enough, inside the bubble a storm began churning. Tiny lightening flashed and rain pelted against the walls of the strange sphere. Everything shifted, turning into snow and ice. Marisol wiggled her hand, shaking the orb, sending the snow careening inside. Bastian now understood why Trip called it a snow globe.

Bastian was nearly startled out of his seat, when a blast of electricity shot out from nowhere. The white-hot bolt pierced the sphere, sending the handful of snow cascading onto the counter.

“Hey,” Marisol declared as she glanced past the group.

Bastian followed Marisol’s gaze, to see Abuela giving her granddaughter a cheeky smile. It wasn’t just Marisol who possessed the frightening gift.

“I’ve seen just about all I can for a good long while,” Bastian insisted when he found his voice.

“What, you guys can go all feral, but we Outsiders can’t have our little quirks?” Iris looked from Char to Bastian, then to Coso’s stunned face.

Bastian was glad he wasn’t the only one with his hair standing on end.

“Amazing.” Coso stood and approached Marisol in awe. “It makes sense that others would have the same pua that also lives in the Shifter breeds.” Coso nodded.

Bastian agreed. If Shifter existed, then there had to be others with similar quirks in the world. But the fact that Coso was unaware of gifted individuals like Marisol and Abuela was disconcerting. Coso was the go-to authority on all things unusual. It was no secret that the Paiute held the knowledge of Shifter origins.

“Of course,” Abuela replied with a matronly pat on Coso’s back. The way the old woman made the comment, it was as if this should be common knowledge.

Bastian chuckled at the flummoxed sheepish expression Coso cast the old woman.

“I can’t believe Wolf knew about this and didn’t say anything. What’s your quirk?” Char asked Iris.

“She makes Cain’s shitty moods disappear,” Trip laughed.

Bastian chuckled.

“Nice. Thanks,” Cain replied.

“My gift is a bit more difficult to see.” Iris wiggled her piggy toes at Cain and he started massaging them. “Will you hand me that pen and paper, please?”

“Sure.” Bastian passed her the items.

“Thanks.” Iris quickly sketched something. “Does this mean anything to you?” Iris showed the picture to Bastian.

“That’s the playing card.”

Bastian gawked at the drawing, like he was staring at a ghost. It wasn’t a perfect sketch, but oddly it contained all the details that stood out in Bastian’s mind. The way Iris scrawled the word help, in the same diagonal direction, was uncanny. She even got the large capital H right.

“Disturbing, isn’t it?” Cain interrupted his thoughts.

“Hey!” Iris kicked Cain with her tiny barefoot. Cain grinned as he caught it, then kissed Iris’ instep. “Stop,” she giggled. “I see things. It would take too long to explain more than that.”

“You don’t want her to step foot in your casino, ever,” Trip interjected.

“Behave,” Marisol admonished her man, though she wore a smile.

“Yes mam,” Trip quickly replied. He then leaned toward Bastian. “I pissed Marisol off once, and she lit my ass up. The electricity arced through all my piercings. And let me say, the one below the belt stung like a son of a bitch,” Trip whispered loud enough everyone could hear.

As unpleasant as that sounded, Trip didn’t look the least bit worried as Marisol touched him.

“TMI man.” Cain shoved his friend.

The group got along well for being so unusual. Bastian now understood why Cain and Trip latched onto these women. Drake latched onto Ella for the same reason. But Bastian doubted the woman felt more than loathing for the jackal.

“You said you saw the picture Iris drew.” Coso brought them back on track.

“Yeah, at last night’s card game. Ella tried to reach out to me for help. Somehow, she wrote help on one of the cards in my hand. I didn’t know what was going on, so I followed Drake when he left,” Bastian explained. He took a big swig of his beer before continuing. “Drake took Ella out in the desert to meet a van with four jackals and Wolf. When Wolf was shot, it was like Ella exploded.”

Bastian shook his head in confusion and disbelief. He would’ve felt completely absurd explaining this, if he hadn’t witnessed the other women’s bizarre skills.

“What do you mean explode?” Char demanded.

“Explode. Shockwave. She tossed Drake’s sports car and tipped a van. But Ella was unhurt.”

“The earthquakes,” Char mumbled. “Ella can move things. That’s her gift.”

“You hit the nail on the head. That feels right. That’s why Drake’s holding Ella, and attempted to bump off Wolf when he came looking for her.” Iris nodded. “I hate kidnapping assholes,” she added.

“Me too amiga,” Marisol agreed.

Cain repressed a growl. Trip wore a similar foul expression as he held onto Marisol. Bastian was certain there was a story there, but it would have to wait.

“So, Ella can move things with her mind,” Coso mused out loud. “If that’s true, then I think she saved Wolf’s life.”

Char’s hand covered her mouth to repress a sob.

Bastian didn’t know how Ella saved Wolf, when the explosion leveled everything around her, but then again, he didn’t know how any of this was possible.

 

Wolf

“Char, stop yelling at me,” Wolf groaned.

“He’s awake,” Char said to someone. “I can’t believe you went rushing into a jackal stronghold. You should’ve brought me along, like I told you.”

Wolf cracked his eyelids to see his sister’s peeved face.

“I didn’t know the jackals were holding…Ella.” Wolf struggled to sit up as her name crossed his lips.

“Don’t be stupid,” Cain growled as he pushed Wolf back down. “You’re going to open those wounds back up.”

“They’ve got her,” Wolf snarled, as he glared at his friend.

He didn’t know why Cain was here, or even where here was. What Wolf did know was that he had to rescue Ella from the jackals.

God only knows what that bastard’s done to her.

“I would suggest you calm down.” Wolf recognized Coso, the desert alpha. “You were all but dead in that canyon. The Great Wolf looked kindly on you once, but don’t test Isa’s favor. One of those bullets struck you in the heart, then reversed course, and your ticker knit back together before you died. So, don’t throw your second chance away being stupid.”

“Ella,” Wolf whispered. He’d felt her intense energy surround him before he passed out in the desert.

“Yeah, it was Ella,” Iris confirmed as she smiled sympathetically.

Wolf knew Ella was amazing. Apparently, everyone else knew too, now.

“We’re going to get her back,” Cain promised.

“Damn straight we are,” Vick rallied.

Wolf was happy to see who all had come to his aid.

“I know we will,” he growled.

“We need to be cautious with how we move forward,” Coso insisted. “Jackals may not outnumber the wolf and feline breeds across the territories, but most of them reside here in Nevada. That means they pose a formidable force in this region.” Coso paced back and forth. “Drake’s not going to let us just walk in and take the female he covets.”

“It would be just like Drake to use this as an excuse to start a war. All his people would back him if they thought the other breeds had stolen his mate,” Bastian snarled.

Wolf nearly leapt off the couch, at the mere suggestion the fucking jackal wanted to mate his Ella.

“Seriously man?” Cain smacked a hand on Wolf’s forehead, affectively pinning him to the couch.

A deep feral growl rumbled through Wolf’s chest, but it petered out as a wave of dizziness struck.

“Wolf, we’re going to get her,” Iris said sincerely.

Those words gave Wolf the most comfort yet. If anyone knew it was Iris.

“Drake may not let a Shifter into his casino,” Iris said as she tapped her chin with that funny look Wolf had seen before.

Iris glanced pointedly from Abuela to Marisol, her smile widening.

“Iris, I know you’re hatching something. The answer is no,” Cain snarled vehemently.

“I agree, it’s too fucking dangerous,” Trip growled.

“Mijo, I think I’m old enough to make my own decisions,” Marisol’s grandmother admonished Trip.

“Mi amore, I don’t ever get to have fun,” Marisol pouted. “Let the girls play, and I’ll let you do that thing you’ve been begging for,” she demurred seductively.

Marisol played Trip like a fiddle. Wolf could only imagine what she was bribing him with. Knowing Trip, it was something raunchy.

“I can’t ask you to do this,” Wolf insisted.

Wolf appreciated the offer. He knew what the three amazing women were capable of, but he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself, if anything happened to them.

Wolf clenched his fists. He hated how useless he felt. He needed more time to heal from getting riddled with bullets, but Ella needed him now.

“Cain, this is the only way, without starting a war,” Iris insisted sweetly. “Just hear me out. We won’t be alone.”

“Fine. Tell us what you see,” Cain rumbled, as he threw his hands up in defeat.

Iris giggled with maniacal glee, her pregnant belly shaking.

“I think I’m frightened,” Tony commented.

“You should be,” Wolf replied, though silently he said a prayer of thanks.