CHAPTER TWELVE

 

 

Richie lifted a bottle of water to his lips and took a long drink. He lowered it and gave Seth a hard look. The instant she teased Seth and made him laugh he liked her. She brought Seth out of his shell. Richie hadn’t seen him act so normal in decades. “I hope you know what you’re doing because I like Sara and would be very put out if anything happened to her.”

Seth’s mouth bunched to one side. “I hope you do too because you’re going to help us come up with a plan of attack that will keep everyone alive. Don’t forget, as my mate, if I die she will follow and vice versa. I’ve never planned a hunt with a partner of any kind, much less my mate. And this rogue is acting very unusual. Somehow he has maintained a modicum of intelligence.” He stared off into space as if thinking. “We must be very, very careful with this one.”

Richie glanced at Sara. She was chewing the end of her finger, as deep in thought as Seth was. He narrowed his eyes at his best friend and growled, “What do you mean by intelligence?”

Seth’s mouth opened, but he said nothing and closed it firmly. Visible tension made his body ramrod straight as his lips thinned to a hard line. His hands flexed and fisted. Richie hadn’t seen his friend this furious in ages. Seth was scary – no scratch that –terrifying when he was enraged.

“The beast slaughtered two neighborhood pets and left them as a warning for Sara.” Seth’s eyes flashed to Richie’s and pinned him in place. “The first one he left alive, barely. Then he set a trap for her, and it worked. She should have been killed then and there, but for some reason, the beast held himself back. He seems to waffle between wanting to kill her and trying to stop himself. Rogue’s aren’t capable of that level of coherent thought or control.”

“Geezus. No kidding. What the heck is going on?”

“We don’t know. Seth ground out between clenched teeth. This is too far outside my wheelhouse of experience. We have no idea what that rogue will do when attacked. I’m going with you on this hunt and Sara should stay home.”

“No,” Sara and Seth said at the same time.

Richie threw his hands in the air, sloshing water on the floor. “Why not?”

Seth growled, his eyes sparkling amber and gold. “Because Luperca says so.”

“Well screw her. Your first priority is Sara’s safety.”

“Yes, she is. And I wish I could.” He glanced at Sara, love tamping down the anger in his eyes. “The problem is, my mate also has demands, and she insists on participating.”

Richie scowled at Sara. He would put her over his knee if it weren’t for a certain mated male who would rip his arms off and mail them to Piper. He shivered. He loved his mate more than anything, but she was very scary when riled.

“Fine, but if she comes along, we need a way to keep tabs on her that won’t break your concentration. What about a tracking device? If she wore one, you would know exactly where she was at all times. You could get one of those collars.”

Seth looked at Sara and barked out a laugh. “I’d like to see you try to put a collar on her. I’ll even record the entire thing. I bet it would get a million views online.”

Sara shot Seth and Richie a dirty look.

Seth raised his hands. “I’m not saying I’m going to let him do it. But it would be hilarious to watch you kick his ass.”

Sara pointed a finger at Richie. “I do not need a tracking device. I may not have experience at hunting a rogue, but I grew up hunting. And, I’m good at what I do. I’ve been a homicide detective for several years and a police officer before that. I can handle anything that mangy beast dishes out.”

Richie dutifully looked ashamed. He had a healthy respect for an angry mated female. He relaxed a bit when Sara turned her focus back on Seth.

She placed a hand on Seth’s arm. “I know you’re used to working solo, but if we do this together, I promise I’ll be an asset, not a hindrance.”

Seth smiled and pulled her to his side. “I’m sure you will. But before we take this show on the road, there are a few things you need to know and practice. A rogue can leap thirty, sometimes forty feet. Never assume you are far enough away.”

She nodded. “All right. I can do that.”

“When we go for a run tonight, it would be best if you practiced jumping as far as you can. That way you’ll have an idea of what your capabilities are and how far and high a shifter can leap.”

Richie grinned when Sara’s eyes lit up. Seth knew exactly which button’s to push to keep his mate happy. Good, man.

“We’re going for a run?” She rubbed her hands together. “That will be fun.”

Seth chuckled, “Yes. I want you to spend some time in wolf form and practice everything you’ve learned. You need to be one with your wolf and work as a team.”

When Seth shifted his attention to him and scowled, Richie’s brows rose. “What? What did I do now?”

“You assumed you would come along on this hunt.”

He crossed his arms and scowled right back. “That’s because I will. In your own words, the rogue has maintained a modicum of intelligence. There’s no way I’m taking any chances with either of your lives.”

“But you will take a chance with Piper’s life? If you die so will she.”

Richie made a face at his best friend. “Bringing my mate into this is playing dirty. There are three of us against one rogue. That isn’t going to happen.”

Seth made an exasperated sound. “Since I can’t force you to stay out of this, I expect you to call Piper and tell her what you’re planning. The last thing I want is to return home to her in a rage. She’s likely to take a few bites out of me.”

Richie chuckled. “Yeah, she would.”

 

 

Seth listened to the wind rustling leaves outside his window. Richie was asleep in the guest room, and Sara had nodded off a few minutes ago. Tomorrow would bring an end to things, either with the death of Paul or himself, because if Sara died in the battle, he would follow. The three of them had returned from their run, pleased with Sara’s abilities. Even Richie agreed that Sara was ready and able to join the hunt.

He didn’t like it, but there it was. Tomorrow he was taking his mate and Richie into a life-threatening situation, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. It was bad enough that Sara was involved, but Richie refused to go home and informed him that he would track Seth to the fight if need be. He wanted to hit something. He didn’t want another person he loved in danger. He tucked Sara closer, needing the contact and sighed, at least he had tonight.

It was nearly dawn when Seth covered Sara’s mouth and whispered in her ear, “Sara, wake up.”

Her lashes fluttered. Then she jerked awake, struggling against his hold.

Shh. I smell Paul and heard something outside.

She glanced toward the window and nodded that she understood.

Get dressed, but try not to make any noise.

Only the whisper of the sheets broke the silence as he released her and rose from the bed. He was pleased when Sara moved just as silently. He pulled on his leathers and grabbed a T-shirt, leaving Sara to dress while he woke Richie.

Sara was dressed all in black with her hair pulled back in a ponytail when he returned. Taking her hand, he drew her from the bedroom, making his way cautiously down the dark hallway. He gave her a pointed look, then flattened himself against the wall, knowing she would mimic his movements.

Halfway down the hall, Richie emerged from the guest room and joined them. They crept toward the kitchen and access to the back door. He raised a fist, singling them to stop and ever so slowly lifted the kitchen window shade without raising it and peered outside.

The dark silhouette of a man moved along the fence line headed around the side of the house in the direction of the street. “Richie, go out the front door. We’ll go out the back and trap him between us,” Seth hissed barely above a whisper.

Richie nodded.

Seth pulled Sara to the back door and turned the doorknob silently. He cracked it open a fraction of an inch, then inhaled slowly. It was Paul all right, and he also smelled house cat. The bastard was preparing another warning for Sara. But he didn’t smell blood and death. That meant they might be able to stop the bastard before he killed another pet.

He released her hand. Stay behind me.

She nodded her head, flexed her fingers, and narrowed her eyes on the door. His warrior woman was ready to do battle.

He lifted his hand where she could see it and counted off to three, jerked the door opened and rushed outside.

Seth heard a grunt, followed by angry cursing. Richie’s cursing. He sped around the house and skidded to a stop, sword drawn and ready to do battle. Sara skidded to a stop next to him.

Richie sat on the ground brushing leaves and dirt from his pants, barking colorful words in brow lifting combinations. Seth scanned the yard. Except for an orange tabby swishing its tail the yard was deserted. The feline sauntered over to Richie and butted his head into Richie’s back expecting a pet.

If he weren’t so frustrated over losing the rogue, he would laugh.

She laid a hand on his arm. “Where did he go?”

Seth sighed. “The rogue escaped. Don’t worry, mon amour. I’ll find him.” He glanced at the horizon. The sky was beginning to lighten, and soon the sun would be up. He put his sword away on his back. Glancing at his friend he cocked a brow. “Sitting down on the job, Majors?”

“Sure. We’ll go with that,” Richie said chuckling as the cat head-butted his hand for more petting.

Seth reached into his boots and pulled his knives. Then he laid one onto each forearm.

“Holy tattoos, batman. Those stilettos make for some seriously sexy ink.”

He cocked a brow and grinned at her. “Really? I’ll have to wear them more often.”

“Yeah, Seth. Your tattoos are sooooo sexy,” Richie teased, batting his eyes.

Seth scowled at his idiot friend still sitting on his ass. “You’re just jealous. Leave the dang cat be and get up. We have a rogue to track.”

He drew in a few breaths, walking this way then that until he located Paul’s scent and followed it to the street. From the looks of it, Paul had hightailed it down the block.

Richie stepped up beside him, brushing leaves and grass from his backside. “How do you want to do this?”

Seth tipped his head toward the house. “There’s firewood in the backyard. Load some in the trunk of my car along with kindling, accelerant, and matches. The body will need to be burned when this is finished.”

“Okay. How are we going to find him?”

“I’ll track him on foot. I want you and Sara to follow me with the car. You drive, and she can navigate since she knows the area and can communicate with me.”

“You got it.”

Sara took his hand as Richie left to make preparations. “I thought we had him.”

“So did I.” He glanced down at her, managing a small smile. “I need you to ride in the car with Richie. If Paul goes off-road, which I’m sure he will, I’ll give you landmarks, so you know where I am. If we’re lucky, he won’t disappear in a car again.”

“Okay. Is there anything you want me to do?”

“Yeah. Kiss me.”

 

 

Luck was on their side. The rogue hadn’t gone for a car. Two hours later, Seth stood on the edge of a small forest in an unpopulated part of town. Based on the direction Paul had taken, he figured they were in the Anderson Lake park reserve. He waited for Sara and Richie to park the car and join him. Paul wasn’t going anywhere. From the saturation of rogue stench, this was Paul’s home base.

Seth saw Sara and Richie moving through the trees a few seconds before he heard or scented them, not that they were making much noise. If he hadn’t known it was them, he would have thought a small animal was moving through the woods.

As they approached the clearing, they slowed. Seth smiled. His woman was one smart cookie. She stopped just short of leaving the tree cover and waited for instructions. Seth held up a fist indicating they should hold.

Fang rumbled softly, a barely audible sound that was felt more than heard. Intelligent and beautiful. We did well.

Yes, we did. Now let’s keep her alive and uninjured. Seth ran a finger over the razor-sharp stiletto tattoo on his forearm. He took a long, slow assessment of the meadow, calculating every possible hiding place or ambush threat.

To his left was swampy meadow dried up by lack of rain and autumn winds. The expanse was nothing more than tall grass and an occasional shrub. Much too open and exposed to launch an effective ambush. To his right was a stand of trees. Cover, but he doubted it offered much in the way of adequate shelter. Paul spent a lot of time here. More than likely lived in the reserve somewhere. He would need a structure, den, or cave. So where was it?

We must keep our mate safe. Let me loose. I’ll run the mangy beast into the ground and rip his throat out.

I would love to, but we can’t leave Sara defenseless. Besides, we gave her our word that she could participate.

It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission, Fang argued.

Under most circumstances I would agree with you, but not about this.

Fine. Fang snarled. Partially shift, and I’ll sniff him out for you.

Seth did as Fang suggested. With the heightened wolf senses, he was ninety-nine percent sure Paul had gone west into the thickest stand of trees in the reserve. He turned and waved Richie and Sara forward.

Sara moved out of the trees, following the exact path he’d taken. He raised his brows in surprise and pride. She took care to avoid brushing against the tall grass that fell across her path. She might as well have been a ghost floating for the lack of noise she made. Her natural instincts and abilities astounded him.

Sara stopped beside him and stood quietly. Too quietly. What is it, mon amour?

Are you all right? Your eyes and expression are pretty terrifying. I’ve never seen you look so scary.

That’s because you’ve never seen me in hunting mode. Taking down a rogue is serious, deadly business.

I know that. I guess I wasn’t prepared for the intensity you’re giving off. Are you sure you’re okay?

I’m fine. He winced at the lie. One never lied to one’s mate. I will be fine when this is over, and you’re safe, he amended. Luperca had thrown one hell of a wrench into his routine. Having a mate to protect while removing the threat of a rogue was putting both him and Fang off their game.

Seth took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He needed to touch her and reassure himself she was safe and would stay that way. As much as it made his teeth itch, he couldn’t hunt Paul on his own. She wouldn’t let him. But he could be her first line of defense.

“Richie, the rogue is somewhere in the forest to our west. Take Sara and work your way around to the far side. About a quarter of a mile from here is a road that borders the reserve. Follow the road until you are directly across from where we are now and then work your way in. Carefully. There has to be some form of shelter hidden from sight. That’s where Paul will be.”

He turned his intense glare on Sara. “If you find something, reach out to me. Do not try to take him down on your own.”

Sara glanced away but nodded.

“Sara,” Seth growled, a warning in his tone. “I mean it.”

“I heard you. Now, let’s do this.” She kissed his cheek and took off around the edge of the trees with Richie hot on her tail.

He didn’t like sending Sara so far from his side. But his experience told him the rogue would be on this side of the forest. The beasts always entered an area closest to the entrance of their lair. He consoled himself with that fact and prayed Paul had done the same. He loathed having her so far from his protection with danger lurking somewhere within the trees. He would have to trust Richie to keep her safe.

I don’t like the way she wouldn’t meet your eye. Fang growled. She’s up to something.

Agreed. Let’s find Paul before she does and gets herself killed.

He entered the forest, moving in silence, every sense on alert. He was a predator, be it on two feet or four.

Not even the slightest movement or sound went unnoticed. A chipmunk scurried on a low branch to his right. The insects droned all around. A bird called from a tree to his left. The rogue’s scent grew stronger. Seth slowed his pace, inching his way through the brush, aware of everything around him both above and below.

Something caught his eye, and he crouched to examine it. He studied the uneven forest floor. Bent and bruised saplings. He brushed away the rotting leaves and debris. Hiding underneath was a footprint.

He stood and continued his search. The footprints became more common, and the stench of rogue filled his nose. He was close. He paused and brought Fang further forward, just short of shifting and let his senses fan outward.

He stayed very still, listening. Waiting for Paul to reveal his hideout. Hunting was a chess game of patience and skill. It was only a matter of time.

His nostrils flared. Sara’s caramel scent floated on the breeze. She was near.

We found it! Sara whispered in his mind. I’m going to check it out.

Sara, No! Stay put. I’ll be right there. Don’t go near it without me. But he knew she wouldn’t listen. Damn her. She was going to confront the rogue before he could get to her.

Richie grabbed her arm, but Sara yanked it away. “You need to wait for Seth,” he hissed into her ear.

“I told him we found something and he’s on his way.” Deep in the stand of trees, they’d come upon a rickety shack. The entire structure couldn’t be more than ten by twenty feet. From the looks of it, a stiff breeze would take it down.

Sara worked her way around the side and saw an opening that no longer had a door. She squinted her eyes, but it was too dark to see anything.

Richie made a strangled sound when she stepped inside.

She stopped a few feet inside the door to allow her eyes to adjust. The hair on the back of her neck itched, and her nose wrinkled at the nasty odor coming from somewhere in the shadows. Paul was close. She was about to be face to face with the rogue in a small dark rickety shack.

A scuffling sound came from the right. Unable to stop herself, she slowly turned.

Why didn’t he attack? He was there, somewhere in the darkness. Close to her. Very close. Too close. She held her breath, listening for more scuffles or breathing. But he didn’t move, and the constant creaking and groaning of the shack drowned out softer sounds.

Why was she so hard headed? If she’d listened to Richie, she wouldn’t be trapped in a shack ready to fall down on top of her with a deadly predator.

Without warning, something heavy slammed into her and knocked her to the floor.

Sara tried to scream, but there was no air left in her lungs. All that came out was a wheeze. Rough hands rolled her to her back. Then he was on her. His feted breath inches from her face.

“I held back…as long…as I could.”

The man on top of her quivered and convulsed. “Paul?”

“You. Should. Have. Run.”

Sara froze. Fear held her immobile. Not only was she captured by the rogue, there was something very wrong with him.

Seth didn’t so much come through the doorway as crash through it. The fragile structure listed a few inches to one side from the rush of wind he’d brought with him.

Old two-by-twelve timbers quivered with their effort to hold up the roof. Autumn leaves and litter swirled in frantic eddies across the floor. His eyes latched onto hers, then jerked to the rogue on top of her.

A second later, Richie skidded to a stop behind Seth.

“Guard Sara,” Seth growled without taking his eyes off the rogue.

The human features of the face only inches from Sara’s began to reshape into a muzzle with very sharp teeth.

A vicious snarl erupted from Seth’s throat as Fang burst into existence.

A shot of adrenaline-laced panic shot through Sara like Secretariat galloping for the finish line. Instinct and her natural born gift enhanced by her shifter magic took over. Every bit of available energy rushed to her. Without thinking she raised her hands and clamped them around the rogue’s muzzle. If she’d had her wits about her, she never would have put her fingers anywhere near a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. The instant her skin made contact, her gift released a massive charge of power. The blast lit up the shack like high noon.

The rogue jerked away, howling in pain. The stench of burned hair mixed with eau de rogue filled her nose. Sara swallowed the bile rising in her throat.

Fang lowered his head, aimed low, and used every ounce of strength and speed he possessed. His attack caught the rogue, now in full wolf form, in its ribcage with the force of a freight train.

Paul flew across the shack and crashed into a pile of moldy broken furniture. Paul, coughing and wheezing, flailed to free himself from the debris.

Fang gave the beast no quarter. He spun and locked his jaws around the rogues left ankle, tearing flesh and severing tendons.

Richie grabbed her under the arms and pulled as she scuttled. They didn’t stop until she was against the wall of the dilapidated structure. She shivered and shook with the adrenaline still saturating her system. Sara got shakily to her knees and craned her neck to see around Richie who was crouched in front of her ready to do battle if the rogue came their way.

Paul’s brown wolf got to his feet, favoring the damaged back leg.

Sara gaped as before her eyes the torn tendons and flesh mended themselves.

The brown wolf’s hackles rose, and it growled a challenge, then charged forward. Fang stood his ground. At the last second, he sidestepped. The brown wolf crashed into the wall, its forward momentum too great to stop.

In the blink of an eye, the brown wolf got to its feet and lunged for Fang’s neck a second time.

Fang leapt into the air as the rogue neared, using the beasts back as a springboard to land in front of the doorway, several feet away. He spared a glance at her then inched backward.

That was when she realized he was drawing the rogue away from her and into the open where he could more easily battle the beast. Smart man.

The brown wolf stalked after him.

Sara got to her feet and shot past Richie ignoring his angry curses. She skidded to a stop ten yards from where the wolves battled. A second later a hand grabbed her arm.

“Damn it, woman, stay behind me. Are you trying to get me killed?”

She gaped at him. “What?”

“If anything happens to you, my best friend will rip my arms off and feed them to me.”

Fang used his blurring speed, to rush the beast. At the last second, both wolves leapt into the air, claws slashing. They hit the ground together, Seth on his feet and Paul on his back in the middle of a thicket. The impact caused the brown wolf to half shift back. Only the rogue’s now human legs landed outside the tangled mess of thorns and branches.

Seth took human form, pulled one of the blades from his forearms, and slammed the dagger through Paul’s right calf, pinning him to the ground.

Paul’s tortured howl morphed into a scream as his half wolf form gave way to full human.

He grimaced in pain. “I’m so sorry, Sara. I was forced to kill Grant. I tried to stop myself, but the magic was too strong. I…tried…to…”

Paul’s jaw clenched, and his eyes rolled until all that showed was the whites. A heartbeat later, they flashed an eerie red. Spittle dripped from the corner of his mouth as he locked eyes with Seth and ripped the dagger from his leg. He flipped the knife for a better grip then flung it at Seth’s chest.

Seth dodged left. The knife missed his heart but not his lung. The razor-sharp blade sliced through him like a hot knife through butter. He howled and dropped to his knees, helpless, and unable to draw a full breath.

“No!” Sara pushed Richie out of the way and put herself between the rogue and her mate.

Richie rushed to stop her. “Sara, get out of there!”

“Get away from me or get hurt. Take care of Seth. I’ve got this.” She raised her arms and pulled electricity from the power lines a quarter of a mile away. Power rushed to answer her call.

The rogue shifted to wolf again and stalked toward her.

She threw a blast at the rogue, searing the beast’s side. The rogue yelped and retreated. Sara spared a glance at Seth. Richie was on his knees beside him. Seth’s hand was over the wound, and Richie’s hand covered Seth’s.

“You need to heal yourself and fast,” Richie demanded.

A glow emanated from under their hands. Thank God. He would be okay. She eyeballed the rogue again. The beast was circling in a large arc. Sara kept pace with him, keeping her body between the beast and her man.

“My God. Look at her. I’ve never seen eyes glow so brightly. And her hair is sparking.”

She shot a look at Richie who gaped back at her.

The brown wolf inched closed with every pass. Sara raised her arms again. Her body vibrated with the massive amount of power she’d amassed.

“Holy shit! She’s glowing.”

“Shut up, Richie. Let her concentrate.”

Taking a breath, Sara turned her palm up to the sky. Wisps of clouds rushed to gather into thunderheads. The sky darkened, roiling and churning with her anger. Deep within the clouds lightning flashed like a backlight to the boiling tempest. Slowly she exhaled and focused. With patience and sheer will, she corralled the electrical charge together. The energy felt like a living thing. It was eager to lash out. Desperate to be free and find a target. With pinpoint laser accuracy she aimed the bolt and released her hold.