Chapter Twenty-Two
A gunshot fired, giving Gentry the permission to unload his cannon on the Others.
Hollis forced his shift and looped Ellen’s arm around his neck, hurrying them across the parking lot. Breathing hurt like hell but he had to get them out of there. The Others had it out for Ellen. On top of the asshole he’d taken down, Mal and Finn had both jumped between her and a would-be attacker. With Gentry firing the M134 Minigun, laughing his ass off, and the efficiency with which the pack was taking down the Others, Hollis felt confident they could handle things without them.
“I’m fine,” Ellen snapped as he pulled her inside the warehouse.
He didn’t acknowledge her protest. An Other was tailing them and his wolf wanted to fight.
“Stop dragging me.” She tugged her arm, but Hollis held tight.
“Stop arguing,” he bit back, glancing over his shoulder to see Anders take down the wolf. He pressed the button on the elevator, frantic to get her to safety.
“Hollis,” Ellen’s tone turned soft. “Where is Kim?”
“Dammit.” He couldn’t leave Kim undefended. “Kim?” Hollis called out, impatient. “Kim!” Expanding his lungs to yell hurt like a son of a bitch.
The elevator opened.
“Dr. Hollis?” She crawled out from under the desk, wide-eyed and breathing hard. “What’s happening?”
“I’ll tell you upstairs.” Hollis waved her forward. “Hurry.” He glanced out the open doors, the noise and chaos outside had his wolf on high alert. But no one was coming.
Kim glanced outside, her mouth dropping open. “Oh my God. Should we call the police?” She paused. “Who are they?”
“Kim,” he snapped. “Elevator.”
She ran in and pressed herself flat against the back wall. “Who’s fighting? Why?”
“There are no simple answers to those questions,” Hollis said, hitting the elevator button. He pressed a hand to his side. Cyrus had cut deep, piercing a lung and cracking a rib. Unlike his shoulder injury, this one hadn’t healed well while he’d been in wolf form.
“I can stand, Hollis,” Ellen murmured, pulling from his hold. She pressed a hand to her head, swaying on her feet, until she rested her weight against the wall. “I’m fine,” she added.
“You can barely stay on your feet, Ellen. You’re not fine.” It took everything he had not to pull her into his arms.
Kim whispered, “Her head is bleeding.”
“We’ll need the first aid kit,” Hollis said.
“So is you shoulder.” Kim pointed. “And your side.” She paused. “Are you sure we shouldn’t call an ambulance?”
“I’m sure.” Hollis nodded. Gentry and Brown had plenty of connections to help them. But this was going to require a hell of a lot of clean up first. His chest rattled with each breath.
“Silver?” Ellen asked.
He nodded. “I think so. It still aches.”
“Bastard,” she hissed. “Cyrus,” she clarified.
“Yes,” he agreed. “He was.”
Her eyes opened, her gaze locking with his. “Was,” she whispered. “You were stabbed with silver and you still managed to shift back? You are a mighty wolf, Hollis Robbins.”
“A mighty what?” Kim stammered.
Her question hung, unanswered, until the elevator doors opened.
“I’ll get the medical kit,” Kim said, pausing at his side. “You’re naked, Dr. Hollis.”
He helped Ellen from the elevator, slid on his lab coat, and pulled an ice pack from the freezer. “Here.” He pressed it against the back of Ellen’s head, grimacing when she winced.
“I’m okay. It’s nothing.” Ellen said, covering his hand with hers. Her mismatched gaze held him captive. “I’m fine.”
His other hand reached up, cradling her cheek. Touching her eased some of his fear and worry. Still, there were things that needed to be said.
The elevator doors opened. Kim moved quickly, holding the medical kit, hiding behind Hollis and Ellen for protection. But it was Finn and the pack, bloody and disheveled, but in one piece.
“It’s over?” he asked.
Finn nodded.
“I sure as fuck hope so.” Mal growled, rubbing his jaw.
“Should I be scared?” Kim whispered, her gaze bouncing from Finn to Anders to Dante. Hollis did the same, trying to see Finn and his pack as Kim did. Big, naked, and banged up to hell—they could be considered intimidating. But he knew them for what they were: loyal wolves, good men, and his family.
Anders laughed.
“No,” Ellen assured her.
“We’re the good guys,” Anders volunteered. “Just a little underdressed.”
Kim stared pointedly at the ceiling. “You said it’s over? What about Mr. White?” Kim sniffed, tears filling her eyes. “M-my mother?”
“Mr. White is dead. Hollis killed him.” Ellen glanced at him before taking the woman’s hand. “Your mother is gone, Kim. I’m so sorry.”
One more casualty in a war they didn’t want. Cyrus was dead, along with so many more. Was it too much to hope that this rivalry, this violence, was over. He didn’t want anyone else to suffer for being their acquaintance. He didn’t want someone’s world to be destroyed to get to Finn and the pack. Kim’s sorrow rolled over them, her sobs shaking her small frame. She pressed her hand to her mouth, muffling the sound—but not the effect it had on those watching her fall apart.
“I’m sorry, Kim,” he murmured. “What can we do?”
Kim shook her head.
“Should we call someone?” Anders asked. “Anyone?”
“She…she was all I had.” Kim sniffed.
“We’ll figure out what happens next. After we eat.” Anders voice softened, awkwardly patting on her shoulder.
Hollis watched Anders display in astonishment, then glanced at Ellen. She held Kim’s hands, clearly reading the woman’s reaction. He didn’t need to read Anders to see he was more than interested in the distraught woman. “Anders, Kim. Kim, Anders.”
“He thinks he’s hilarious.” Ellen smiled. “We all play along to keep him happy.”
Anders shook his head. “I am hilarious. But I’ll wait till after we’ve got some food in you.”
“I’d like to wash my hands and face,” Kim murmured. “Pull myself together.”
Anders nodded. “Is there a bathroom close?”
“Down the hall.” Kim pointed, glancing at Ellen. “You’re still worried?”
“We’re being cautious.” Anders smiled. “Lead the way.”
Hollis watched them, the way Anders looped Kim’s arm through his and the unmistakable curiosity on his face.
“That should be interesting,” Dante murmured. “Never seen Anders get remotely territorial like that.”
“That’s how it starts.” Mal grinned. “Still, we’ll need to keep an eye on her for a while, just to be sure she’s in the clear.”
Finn sighed. “If she has no place to go, and if there are any more crazy Cyrus followers out there, she’s better off at the refuge for now.”
Hollis agreed Kim needed their protection but taking her back to the refuge seemed drastic. Especially if Anders’s wolf was interested in more than taking care of her. Tonight had been horrible, but it wasn’t inescapable. The refuge was their world, a place there was no coming back from.
“Clothes?” Mal asked.
“In my office.” He tossed the keys to Mal. “Dante, you’re bleeding pretty bad. Want me to patch that up?”
Dante glanced at the long gash running from his lower back, along his hip, to his midthigh. “No. Let’s get the hell out of here before Gentry starts blowing things up.”
Hollis frowned. “Not the lab…?”
“No. Just the warehouse. It will look like a break-in and the fire was set to cover it. He’s destroying the video feed and taking care of the…” Dante shrugged. “Evidence that might be hard to explain.”
Hollis shook his head. “I don’t want to know.” Gentry’s passion for firearms and explosives had saved their asses on numerous occasions. He wasn’t thrilled about putting his research of the billions of dollars of equipment at risk, but Gentry was a professional.
“Good idea. Then you don’t have to lie when the cops and insurance ask questions,” Mal clapped him on the shoulder. “But we should kick it into high gear.”
“Get dressed and we’ll go.” Finn led them from the room.
Ellen stood on the far side of the lab, braced. As much as he wanted to break the tension between them, he didn’t know how. She’d hurt him, deeply, when she’d broken her word to him. Didn’t she know what could have happened? His wolf longed for her touch, longed to be closer to her. And, dammit, angry or not, so did he.
Her gaze found his, then fell.
He closed the distance between them, assessing her with a quick once-over. She’d survive. But seeing her battered, knowing someone had laid hands on her, made his blood boil. “Let me look at your head,” he murmured, distracted by the blood staining her shirt. “You might need stitches.”
“I’m fine—”
“No, you’re not,” he argued.
“I am, Hollis.” She stared at him.
He ignored her, brushing away her hands and leading her under his lamp. The fluorescent bulb hummed, hurting his ears and rubbing against his already raw nerves. It didn’t help that she was staring at him. One blue eye, one green eye, so intent he could hardly think straight let alone determine if she needed stitches or not. “What?” he snapped.
“You’re so angry with me,” she whispered.
She had no right to look sad. No right to tears. “I am,” he ground out, his jaw clenching as he fought for control. It was too raw, too real to talk about. Not yet.
Her hands cradled his face. “Don’t be.”
Eyes pressed shut, he managed to hold back his anger and sadness, fear and frustration. Barely. “Don’t.” His breath powered out of him.
“You can’t stay mad at me. You can’t. You would have done the same thing. You are mine. I am yours.” Her grip tightened, demanding he look at her.
And when he did, the spark of anger in her eyes was mesmerizing. And infuriating. “You are mine.” He growled, pulling away from her to tug up her shirt. “And this is mine.” He pressed his hand against her flesh. “My child. A child you promised to protect.”
She opened her mouth. then squeezed her lips tight.
He waited, hoping she’d argue. If he couldn’t tear into someone physically, he’d damn well welcome a verbal throw down. He was pissed as hell at her, but so fucking relieved that she was okay. That they were okay. It stole the air from his lungs to know that they might actually have a future together. Beneath his hand was the evidence of their bond—one strong enough to recover from whatever life threw at them. Not that he was ready to forgive her yet. No, he was too fired up. Too overwhelmed.
Someone cleared their throat.
“We ready?” Finn asked.
He turned to find all eyes on them. Dante, Anders, Kim, and Finn. All watching and waiting, wearing various expressions.
“Yes,” he answered, dropping the hem of her shirt and spinning away from her. “Give me a minute to get a few things. I’ll meet you downstairs and we can go home.”
…
She wanted five minutes alone with him. Since they’d left the blazing warehouse, they’d been moving. From car to hotel, hotel to car, car to plane, plane to car, and—finally—arriving at the refuge. Always with the pack, never alone. He made sure of that. The more he kept them apart, the more irritated she grew.
Now they were home, the pack reunited, and still he kept his distance.
If he was going to be a stubborn ass, then she would not waste time trying to make amends. Instead, she’d be useful. Finn and Brown were already looking for activity from the remaining Others. They’d gathered in Finn’s office to talk strategy and preparation.
It would take time for news of Cyrus’s death to spread. He’d always kept the Others fragmented and scattered since smaller groups were easier to control. Using Brown and Gentry’s connections, they had plenty of eyes and ears ready and willing to help track the remaining Others.
“Nothing I like better about the hunt than the chase,” Gentry said, leaning against Finn’s desk. “We’ll find ’em. If any of them look like trouble, I’ll call in.”
“Chances are they’ll scatter.” Ellen ran her finger along the map that covered the conference table. As far as she knew, she’d traveled to every one of the Others’ dens. Cyrus had taken her with him, introducing her to his seconds—sharing her with those he truly favored. Her skin twitched, shoving aside those memories best forgotten. But she’d learned something important. While most of his favorites were ambitious and driven, none of them were capable of being an Alpha. Without Cyrus, their pack would cease to exist.
“Or each group will try to form a pack,” Dante pointed out.
“They might,” she agreed, pressing a hand to her temple. “Most won’t live long enough to see that happen. Very few of his pack are originals. They have memories, would challenge his truths. No, best to keep the bloodlines fresh and the memories shorter. A good plan if the sickness hadn’t set in. But it did.” She glanced at Tess then, huddled in the corner of the couch. The girl still wouldn’t look Ellen in the eye—not that it mattered.
Dante moved, ever so slightly, putting himself between her and Tess. She sighed. Poor Dante. He could do better. But, if his wolf had already chosen there wasn’t much he could do about it.
“Even if they do, there’s no guarantee they’ll want to follow Cyrus’s master plan to wipe us out.” Anders shook his head. “Tonight, we came off looking like one hell of a threat.”
“It doesn’t mean they won’t,” Mal added.
“If I can help, I will.” Tess spoke softly, still nervous and uncertain in her new pack.
“She might know of dens I don’t.” Ellen said, her gaze returning to the map.
“You’re to watch and report back, Gentry. Nothing more,” Finn cautioned the grinning man.
“What if they get riled up and hungry for a fight?” Gentry asked, still grinning.
Finn sighed.
“There has to be a way to convince them the whole wolf-turf war thing was all Cyrus’s idea,” Olivia spoke up. “Then we wouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
“That went so well last time” Mal hugged his mate close and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Still so willing to believe the good in everyone.”
“Which is why you love me,” she said, pinching him on the arm.
Ellen felt a twinge of envy at their closeness. Her gaze bounced to Hollis, but he was poring over some paperwork on Finn’s desk.
“I’m with Olivia on this one.” Dante shook his head. “They live like we do, thinking we’re coming for them.”
Tess cleared her throat. “I don’t want to put any of you—us at risk, but Dante has a point. Living in fear is living half a life. We—they don’t know how to live, as a wolf, without being ruled by him. They will panic.”
“A short life, growing sick and dying,” Ellen added. “Cyrus gave me turning dates so I could track them. Even he realized there was something wrong. Life expectancy was no more than seven years. Usually five.” She paused, looking at Tess. “You were with them how long?”
“Seven years,” Tess said.
“Now it’s five. Some others three.” Ellen frowned. “The pack will die, in time, without Cyrus.”
“Is there a way to help them?” Finn asked, looking between Hollis and Ellen.
“I don’t know.” Hollis shrugged, sparing her a fleeting gaze. “I haven’t had many Others to run tests on.”
“And I’m thinking the likelihood of them lining up for us to experiment on seems pretty slight.” Anders shook his head.
“It might be best to start small.” She rolled her head slowly. “I know there are some who would gladly forget the bad blood between our packs. Now that Cyrus is gone, it’s possible.”
Tess nodded. “It’s true.”
“If it’s possible, then we’ll try.” Finn said.
Mal growled. “Meaning we’ll research the shit out of each group, go in armed to the teeth, and be prepared to kill every last one of them.”
“After Gentry has the place scoped out and knows exactly what we’re walking into.” Finn nodded. “Then, yes.”
She nodded, a sudden bolt of pain shooting up her neck and into her skull. She winced, hissing against the unexpected stabbing sensation.
“Is your head bothering you?” Hollis asked her, bringing all conversation to a stop.
Yes. It was throbbing. With the occasional stabbing pain. And that was the only reason he was looking at her—talking to her. She frowned. “I’m fine.”
“Let me see,” Hollis said, crossing the room.
His concern was nothing short of infuriating. She shook her head, wincing at the effort that took.
Anders said, “Forgot you can’t shift. I can see it from here—gotta hurt like a son of a bitch.”
“It’s fine,” she ground out, hating the attention.
Finn looked at her. “Let Hollis check.” It wasn’t a request.
She pushed out of her chair and stalked toward her mate. “Here?” she snapped.
“Would you prefer some privacy?” he asked, jaw tight, green eyes studying her.
“Now you want privacy?” She waited, hands on hips. “You’ve turned this into an exhibition. By all means, see for yourself. I. Am. Fine.”
His hands rested on her shoulders, causing a shudder to run down her spine. This was what she craved more than anything else. His touch. She let him lead her to Finn’s desk and pulled the lamp closer, stooping for a closer view. “I should have stitched this before we left.” But his anger had gotten in the way.
His scent flooded her. “You stubborn man.” Her voice lacked the bite she wanted.
“I’m stubborn?” he asked, parting her hair to assess her injury. “You’re the one bleeding and refusing help.”
“I don’t need help,” she snapped, waiting for his hands to fall away before standing.
“You proved that today.” His voice was low, the last word ending on a growl.
She spun to face him. “Hollis—”
“If Mal had been tied to that chair, or Finn, would you have done the same thing?” His eyes searched hers. “Would you have jeopardized the baby’s safety if you’d known their wolf was capable?”
She swallowed. She’d done more than broken her word. She’d hurt him, wounded his pride, deeply.
“Or was it just me?” he pushed.
She ignored the pack, ignored everything but him. “Pack be damned, Hollis Robbins, you are all I have.” Her hands fisted at her sides as she stared him down. “I will not live without you. I cannot.” She broke off, hating the waver in her voice. “Forgive me or not, I would do it again. If you refuse to understand, then you are the stubborn ass. Not me.”
His expression revealed nothing.
“But no, to answer your question, I would not have acted as I did if it had been anyone else in that chair.” She shook her head. “But not for the reasons you think.” Her hands cradled his face. “I believe in you, Hollis. I’ve always known you’d be a fierce wolf. But my wolf, my instinct, would not be denied. I will always fight for you. And fight with you.” She ran her fingers through the tangled copper locks she so loved, then sighed. “Believe me or not. Your wolf knows the truth.” She stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest, and scowled at him.
His gaze bore into hers, intent and piercing and tender. “I do.” He pulled her close. “Now you, forgive me. Watching you tonight… I was wrong to expect you not to fight.” He drew in a deep breath, his hand cradling her cheek. “You are a fighter. And a healer. I love who you are, as you are. Every stubborn hair on your beautiful body. Your scathing insults. Your lethal grace. The smile you give Oscar and Diana. The smile just for me. Because you’re mine.”
“I am,” she whispered, sliding her arms around his neck. “As you belong to me. My warrior. My mate. My love.”
He smiled, the slight flare of his nostrils revealing his hunger for her. When his lips sealed against hers, her wolf howled for more. This was what she needed.
Someone cleared a throat.
“Not to ruin the moment here, but I’m not sure I want to see where this is going,” Anders interrupted.
“Agreed,” Dante said.
“We’re done here.” Finn chuckled. “We’ll talk later.”
“Much later,” Anders whispered.
Mal laughed.
Ellen took Hollis’s hand in hers. “Much later,” she said. But Hollis was already dragging her from the office and down the hall to their room. She waited until they reached their room before launching herself at him. He caught her, the fire in his eyes making her throb.
“Your head,” he said against her lips.
“Be gentle,” she murmured, biting his lip. “But love me.”
“I do. More than my own life.” He groaned, pulling back. “Tonight was hell.” He broke off, fear and sadness twisting his beautiful face.
“And for me,” she said, tilting his face toward hers. “But we are one. We make each other stronger. True mates. I will always be with you.”
“Always.” His nod was stiff. “But sometimes…it scares me how much I love you.”
She nodded, her fingers twining in his copper locks. “I know.”