Zia… 1st Floor of the Dragofin Lair

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“Are you sure he’s at your apartment? And, where are his parents?”

Her long exhale was Zia’s clue that in just about a minute her temper was going to flare.

“One, two… three.“ She mumbled the count to herself and breathed in. Her insides pinged with an unspent drive to retrieve Boogie out of the clutches of those bastards.

Shifting from foot to foot, Zia spoke slow and clear, “It’s go time.”

If she could remember to wear her fitness tracker like most folks, she would have tapped the face for emphasis of all the time he wasted.

Greg cocked a heavy dark blond eyebrow at her and waited.

She continued to try to get her emotions in check. It was like some serious motherly instinct to protect had taken over. If she were a bear, Zia had no doubt she would fuck some shit up.

Still, he said nothing, looking at her with all the damn patience in the world.

When it looked like she’d get no response, Zia added, “Enough with the twenty questions. Shouldn’t kidnapping count as an emergency? I knew I should have grabbed my purse and went alone.”

Busted.

She’d shown her ass and bratty tendency when things didn’t go her way. Another side effect of times like this was her not so ladylike language. Yep, her potty mouth had come to play. Whelp, guess the mating didn’t cure everything.

Here it was front and center—reckless impatience.

No one had to tell her the actions she wanted to take weren’t well thought out. A child was out there alone, and it was her fault. The need to protect him and the fight hormones that must have her amped were in full override of logic and reason right now.

Hues of the ghost of shame made her pause for a moment. But just for a moment. Making a mental promise, Zia noted the bad behaviors she rocked right now as some of the many shortcomings she’d put on the list to work on.

Practical life as a mate outside the bedroom was more than a notion. Greg was getting a crash course today on the rough side of Zia.

Her mate, to his credit, seemed unfazed by her mounting force of expressions.

“Zia, focus. What about his parents?”

“What about them? Hell, how am I supposed to know where his parents are? I’ve been here with you for the last few days.”

Her volume had risen and was a bit too sharp to hide her frustration with his not getting a move on it.

“You know I don’t mean that. I want to know more about his parents so we can contact them before rushing over there.”

“And get them upset? Nah, not before we have more to tell them. That’s not the way this needs to work. Greg. Please, we need to bring him home to them before they have a chance to miss him.” The plea in her use of his name showed how scared she was about the fate of that young man, all because of her. “What is so hard to understand? Look, I don’t have time for this shit. I can do this my own damn self.”

Why was she so irritable?

“Wait a minute. Stop mate.” The voice that said that was deep and void of anything beyond no-nonsense finality.

She didn’t budge, though. Boogie was just a random kid to him. What was evident was that Zia doubted she could leave Greg if she tried.

Her love for him had transformed into more than she could comprehend. A strange sensation like that of a magnet pulling at the deepest part of her connected them. Zia looked back up to see a reflection of love staring down at her. She shook her head as a drive to protect the innocent warred with her need to be with her mate.

Looking at Greg, Zia’s being refused to let her realistically contemplate the move to leave. The thought of not being near him was distasteful and left an almost detectable bad taste in her mouth.

“What have you done to me?” she whispered more than said aloud.

His answer was just as low but powerful. “Given you every part of me.” Next, Greg did the oddest thing. He took a moment and stared her up and down. He paused at her midsection long enough for her to become a little self-conscious. She didn’t have a flat tummy, but that had never been something she focused on. The way he looked at her was as if he had to guard her with his life.

Ooh, he was exasperating taking his time with everything. She couldn’t help it as the complaint slipped out. “Are you done?”

“Never. Always remember—we do this together.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m so angry. How dare they do this to him. Who are they and what do they want with me?”

“That’s what we aim to find out, but we have to be smart about it.”

Her mate was her heart. It mattered that he wasn’t able to pick up on how anxious she grew by the second. Zia needed him to understand, to know her feelings were valid.

“Greg, you don’t understand. I know Boogie. He’s a kind kid that has gotten caught up in something because of me.” Whether it was guilt, anger, fear or a combination of them all, she didn’t know, but Zia wasn’t going to waste any more time gabbing about this. Magnetic pull of attraction or not, Zia had to save Boogie. “Move. I need to go, now!”

“Not without me you don’t, and not without a plan.” Greg’s tone was resolute. “Boogie isn’t as helpless as you make him out to be.”

“How come? He’s a little boy.”

“Who’s a Lycanthrope.”

“A what?”

“A natural-born werewolf shifter. By the looks of how he tried to challenge me when we met, I’d say he’s not only going to be a powerful alpha but going through a lot of physical and mental changes. That’s another reason why I want to know where his folks are. If the guy or group who snatched him are human, he might do something that could end badly for them all. We need a plan in place that won’t trigger Boogie’s primal defense mechanism to harm anyone.”

Shook, wasn’t the word to accurately label her reaction. “You want me to believe that Boogie isn’t fully human?”

“Yes. He’s a shifter class with lycanthropy. Lycanthropes can shift at will. Usually during puberty the change can be more volatile as their bodies go through the hormonal spikes like any other humanoid species during the maturation process.”

Her world threatened to spin out of control. She wasn’t as pumped for one of Greg’s lessons right now. “Boogie? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Her hands went up in surrender. “I can’t, with all this. It’s too much. Everywhere I turn there’s a new ‘myth’ popping up that’s true.”

“That’s what happens when the veil of the earth’s realm is pierced. You begin to see the multiverse in all its abrasive awe.”

“Is everyone around me not what they appear to be?”

“Most likely. We tend to gravitate to each other as a sort of tuning of frequencies. I suspect that’s why he’s so protective of you, besides the huge crush.”

“I guess his strong attachment to me and my protection makes sense in hindsight.”

“Yes, and I too know he’s a good kid. He used his last words to try to warn you. I owe it to him to help for that alone.”

“You mean that, don’t you.”

“I do.”

Anxiety of Boogie’s welfare continued to make her body twitch with the need to be doing something. Greg’s revelation did nothing to take away her need to rescue the child.

Greg must have sensed her agitation as he moved to stand between her and the front entryway. When the giant of a man crossed his hands over his chest, Zia’s stomach growled as the lump of reality that her plan wouldn’t fly hit the bottom of said stomach.

She shook her head in furious denial. “Werewolf be damned, I don’t care. He’s only thirteen if that old. He’s still a baby.” Her emotions were getting the best of her, but Zia couldn’t stop. Something more powerful than reason moved her to want to protect and help him. “He’s innocent and did nothing to deserve this. You need to move out of my way.”

“And, you need to listen to reason. As for Boogie’s innocence, again, I’m not so sure that’s the case. As for you? There’s no way I’m going to approach this where we get that young man killed.” He paused. When he spoke again, Greg’s voice was softer. “I know how much he and all the kids of your neighborhood mean to you. This is that moment where you look past the common response of a fighting soldier to tap into the wisdom and planning of a cunning general.”

“Ha! You sound like I’m on the battlefields of Sparta with that speech.”

“I sound like I’m speaking with the one person who I’d gladly walk into death’s realm as a willing sacrifice if needed. Zia?”

“Yes?” she couldn’t help but pause the way he posed his argument.

“You’re going to get him and yourself into more trouble if you don’t stop and let me help you.”

She understood that Greg had to know as much as possible before making any rash decisions, but the longer they waited, Boogie could be dead.

“Fine, don’t take my word for it. Here, listen for yourself.”

Zia handed him the phone as the young man’s voice sprang to life through the recording. The stranger’s ominous threat grated against her last nerve by the time the call ended.

Afternoon sun flowed in from the back of the large space as a door opened to reveal a handsome young couple. They cleared the opening to enter the Lair with purpose.

Hildy and Ajax transversed the obstacle course of sparring mats, free weights and open area with the grace and ease of gazelles. So impressed was she with their show of physical agility that Zia caught herself staring at them for the otherworldly beings they were.

The two reached the area near the front entrance where Greg had her pinned. Or, at least that’s how it felt.

Thankful for fresh ears to hear her plea, Zia attempted to speak before she was cut off.

“What’s all the commotion? We heard you screaming for Greg and came in to make sure you’re all right,” Ajax said coming to stand by Greg.

Hildy slid into the spot next to Zia as if on watch and took a protective stance.

“One of the kids from Zia’s neighborhood was taken,” Greg said, his voice back to that no-nonsense, practical emotionless cadence. That tone used to drive Zia bonkers. Now, in it, she heard his determination to remain calm and strong to support her.

This new revelation of how her mate operated helped to assure her that he was in control and would help her make this right.

“How long ago was that?” Hildy asked, wrapping an arm around Zia and rubbing in comfort.

Zia accepted the gesture as an act of solidarity.

“Getting close to over an hour. Y’all, he’s just a kid. I must do something. It’s my fault he’s in this predicament.”

Hildy looked at her as if to ward off any oncoming melodrama. “How so? You haven’t been there for weeks.”

“Because…” Zia almost snatched the phone out of Greg’s hand to replay his message, “They said so.”

Her heart lurched again as the recording played.

“Yeah, I’d say you’re right. It’s your fault,” Ajax said, without a hint of shade to his proclamation.

“Tactless much?” Hildy was on him faster than Zia could comprehend. “Can’t you tell that little guy is trying to be strong for his Miss Zia? We must go get him.”

“Hold up, I’m not sure this is something for everyone to attend to. I already had plans to take Zia back to her apartment to pack before this happened.” Greg pulled Zia into his arms and turned her around to face the others as he held her from behind. “Didn’t you hear what the other guy said? She’s to come alone. That means we can’t rush over there in a show of force.”

“We have an aerial advantage with a seasoned… pro at our disposal,” Hildy said, as a conspiratorial grin split her lips.

“Not during daylight. It’s only around four,” Greg said as Zia remarked at how he always seemed to know what time of day it was. “The sun is setting later now that we’re approaching the Spring Equinox. By my calculation, there’s still well over an hour of bright daylight left. One thing Zia is correct about is that we don’t have much time.”

He continued to hold onto Zia a little tighter than necessary in her opinion.

“I’m not going to make a run for it,” she said to smiles from Ajax and Hildy.

“Everything in your stance leads to the contrary.” Hildy gave her a wink. “Greg’s right. Let’s unpack this fast and get a plan. Zia, do you have the kid’s parents phone number?”

Zia knew the answer without having to think about it. “No, I don’t even know for certain which apartment he lives in. He’s always just been there hanging out with the other kids.” Helpless and frustrated, she racked her brain for any recollection of any useful information. “I suck as a neighbor. I don’t have anyone’s phone number, email or even social media accounts I can reach out to.”

“Give me the address, and I’ll see if any of our scouts in that area know anything.” This time it was Ajax who spoke up.

Greg’s chest rumbled behind her head as he spoke. “Ajax heads our surface operation to guard against human trafficking, teen runaways, and other atrocities that befall a lot of youth in this city.”

“Excuse me for a sec,” the mentioned man said as he pulled out his cell phone and started to dial.

Zia didn’t miss how much pride and love Hildy had in her eyes as they tracked her mate’s movements. It made so much more sense now, how these people loved and lived. She was mated less than a day, and her problems had become theirs, too.

“Do you have a way to connect with Wren and Quinn without going downstairs?” she heard Greg ask Hildy.

“Yeah, I call them,” Hildy said, snark-heavy as she too pulled out a cell phone and started to dial.

“Wait,” Zia said, motioning to Hildy. “We don’t have to bother them about this. Greg is right. This is my problem. Greg is willing to go with me. That’s all I need.”

“You really don’t get it yet. Isn’t she precious?” Hildy asked with more snark, looking over to Greg for the last part. “This is a Clan you’re a part of now. Once you joined with your mate, you inherited the rest of us as your family. We fight for ours.” With that, Hildy redirected her attention to the call and walked off as well.

That left Zia to gather herself enough to face her mate. He turned her around and tilted her head up to face him. Neither said a word for a moment. She tried to hold eye contact to give her forthcoming apology more of an impact when the telltale sign of the beginning of a headache started.

“Could you hear me?” Greg asked.

“Hear what? You didn’t say anything.”

Zia’s heart sunk a bit at the expression that ghosted across Greg’s face.

“Yes, I did. I tried to connect with you through a neural link.”

“Oh,” was all she could manage. “That must have been the weird feeling I got in my head. Maybe I need to start off by closing my eyes for the first one for some better concentration. Please, try again.”

Greg grew still once more and looked down at her. Zia closed her eyes and tried to find the voice in her head. Instead of the voice of her mate, Zia heard the external voices of Hildy and Ajax in the distance.

“Don’t force yourself. It’ll come in due time.”

This time she knew it was Greg’s voice, but outside her head.

Well damn. She couldn’t do the cool mental talk thing yet.

“Please, don’t give up on me so fast. How about you keep trying as we get a plan together to leave?” Zia needed to keep her hope alive that something would work out in their favor.

Her phone rang. The factory-issued generic ring tone said the caller wasn’t in her contacts.

“Answer and put it on speaker,” was all Greg said as each stared down at the device.

Zia’s hand shook as she pressed the screen and waited. She was about to go head to head with a kidnapper.