Jackson pushed his wolf to its limits, urging it to hurry as they made their way back to the camp. Not that it needed any encouragement; its protective parental instincts were going into overdrive. They had to find their pup, now.

The maelstrom inside him continued to churn as he ran across the woods. Jordan. Making love to her. Holding her tenderly. This was not the time to ruminate on what had happened, but he couldn’t help it.

She had left an indelible mark on him, and he knew it was time to face what was happening between them. He was falling for her, and fast. He thought at first it was just jealousy when he saw her and Blake getting cozy. But no. Seeing her in the moonlight, in her wolf form and then her gloriously naked state, he knew he had to have her. All of her. She would belong to him and no one else.

But that would have to wait. Deal with Austin first. Possibly whoop his ass if this turned out to be some stupid prank.

“Tell me what she said.” He was barely shifted back when he roared the words at Garland.

The older man scrubbed a hand down his face. “She called us over the radio. Said that the boy was playing outside and never came for dinner. She searched and searched everywhere, but couldn’t find him.” His face grew somber. “Then she said one of the work trucks was missing, too.”

“Was it possible he stole it and went for a joy ride?” A vision of the truck turned over the side of the road crossed his mind, and he only hoped it wasn’t the case.

“Thing is …” Garland hesitated. “There was someone we couldn’t find either.”

His jaw ticked. “Who?”

“Samuel.”

“Motherfucker.” Rage rippled down his spine.

“Jackson? What’s going on?”

He turned around. He had forgotten about the others. Liz and Karen were standing behind them, as was Keith and Blake, all of them fully dressed.

“Is everything okay?” Keith asked.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s Austin. He’s missing, so I need to get back. We have to cut this trip short.” If Samuel was loose, then they could be in danger too.

“What?” Liz cried. “You can’t! We were just having fun. I was looking all over for you but I couldn’t find you!”

“It’s not safe,” Jackson said. “We need to go back.”

“This is unacceptable.” Liz’s face twisted in fury. “That brat of yours is probably just hiding somewhere, trying to get your attention. Forget boarding school; he needs to be locked in a cage!” Liz’s face fell and she covered her mouth. “Fuck! I didn’t mean it like that, I’m so—”

“You should leave, now.” Fury coursed through him, and he wanted nothing more than to strangle Liz. Why he ever thought she would be a good mate and mother, he didn’t know. “Garland,” he barked. “Pack everything up. Call the boys and have them bring the trucks to take everyone home.”

He ignored Liz’s pleading and stomped off. It was better he walk away before he did something that he might regret. The anger ebbed away as he drew further and further from the camp. Tomorrow, he would send Liz home. Good riddance. If Grant Anderson had a problem with it, then he could take it up with him.

When he was finally calm enough, he decided it was time to return to the camp. He only hoped Liz would take the hint and stay away from him. But, before he could head back, a loud sound pierced the air.

It was a long wolf howl. Full of fury and wrath. He didn’t know how, but a voice inside him said: Jordan.

Jackson shifted into his wolf in no time. He followed the sound; it was like a beacon, guiding him and his wolf.

Suddenly, the sound stopped, but it didn’t matter. He arrived at a clearing, not far from the camp, actually. His wolf skidded to a halt, and he quickly shifted back to his human form. Three figures stood in front of him.

“Motherfucker!” Carter screamed.

“Pa!” Austin cried. Carter held him against his body, a knife at the boy’s throat.

“Austin!” Jackson advanced toward him. “I’m going to tear you limb from limb, Carter!”

“Stop!” Carter pushed the knife closer to Austin’s skin. “I’ll do it. You know I will!”

Jackson froze. “What the hell is going on?” And where was Jordan? He glanced around. He didn’t see her or her she-wolf anywhere. “Samuel?”

The burly man was on his knees, a few feet away from Carter. His face was twisted in pain and his body convulsed with shakes. “A-a-Alpha,” he growled. “H-h-help.”

“Explain yourselves,” Jackson commanded.

Carter spat on the ground. “Well, looks like you walked right into my trap, Alpha. Earlier than I wanted, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?”

“Trap?” Jackson asked. “What do you mean?”

“Do you think you can cast me out and not pay the consequences?” Carter said. “No way I’m going back to being a Lone Wolf! No fucking way!”

“You got Marsden hurt,” Jackson retorted. “And what the fuck were you doing in the bullpen?”

“Haven’t figured it out yet, Alpha?” Carter sneered. “Who do you think’s been killing your animals?” He glanced at Samuel. “And who’s been helping him keep his secret?”

Realization flooded through him. Oh, no. He looked back at Samuel, who seemed desperately trying to hold on. To his human form that is. He was going feral.

“Goddamn idiot,” Carter cursed. “He couldn’t hold on, just until the probationary period was over and we could finally be part of the clan. Damn fool was gonna get us both kicked out. So, I helped feed the bloodlust. I brought him small things at first. Rabbits. Birds. But then he wanted more, so I went onto the chickens, then the goat. When that wouldn’t satisfy him, I thought, why not one of the bulls?”

“You should have told me,” Jackson said. “I could have helped.”

“Helped?” Carter said. “You could have us both kicked out! Or worse.”

Jackson would have felt sorry for the man, for what he had been through and because he could never trust anyone after what had been done to him. But he also had a fucking knife to his son’s throat, which is why he could only feel wrath toward Carter. “Well, what was your plan?” Keep him talking, he thought. He had to figure out how he was going to get Austin away from this asshole.

“I was going to get my revenge,” Carter said. “I got your boy, then told Samuel he had to come with me or I’d kill the kid. First, I was going to have Samuel tear your precious brat’s throat out, then lure you here so he could kill you, too.” He laughed. “Damn goodie-two shoes! You can’t control it, Samuel!”

“Shut up!” Samuel roared. “Don’t wanna …”

“You will!”

“You motherfucker,” Jackson roared. “I’m going to kill you and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.”

“Not before I could kill your boy,” Carter taunted. “Samuel,” he called. “Stop dicking around and shift!”

“No!” He clawed at the air. “Alpha … don’t want … no …”

It was obvious that Samuel didn’t want to hurt Austin or Jackson. He couldn’t help himself. The years of torture had broken him and his wolf. “Hang on, Samuel,” he urged. “We’ll get you help.”

“Please … Alpha.”

“Samuel, you piece of shit!” Carter pressed the knife to Austin’s throat so it drew blood. “Shift now and kill the Alpha or I’ll slit this boy’s throat!”

“No!” Samuel dug his fingers into the ground, as if trying to anchor his human form. However, it seemed to no avail as his face began to distort and his teeth lengthened.

Desperation clawed at Jackson, his wolf unable to move. They had to protect Austin at all costs. Even if that meant killing a man who was desperate to live.

Jackson roared as he shifted into wolf form, the speed of the change making him dizzy. He landed on all fours and faced the feral wolf. Bloodlust tinged the air—the feral wolf was out to kill.

The two wolves circled each other. Jackson’s wolf was unusually large, even for a Lycan, but Samuel’s matched him. Plus, the other wolf was out of control and had nothing to lose.

Jackson held back, waiting for the other wolf to make the first move. It lunged at him. He was ready and raised his paws to push him away. Teeth gnashed at him. The wolf was going straight for the kill, trying to reach his neck. Jackson roared and turned his head so he could clamp down on Samuel’s shoulder. He let out a howl of pain, but that didn’t seem to faze him as he continued to claw and bite at Jackson.

From the corner of his eye, he kept a watch on Austin. Carter still had him close. The situation was helpless, but he would die fighting for his son if he had to.