15
Ricky couldn’t sleep. He had an itch on the back of his neck that promised trouble. He slipped from his bed where his mate lay spent under his covers. He crept out onto his back porch and lifted his nose to the air.
There.
Subtle, but there.
He caught the scent again as the breeze ruffled his hair.
“I don’t know who the fuck you are or why you’re in my territory, but I do know I’m gonna fucking hurt you.”
He stepped to the edge of his porch and took a deep breath. The night carried a chill in the air that had him wishing he’d pulled on his boxers, but the strange scent stayed illusive.
“I know how to help your alpha.” The voice snarled from the darkness raised the hair along Ricky’s neck.
“Tell me then.” Ricky tried to see through the trees, but couldn’t make out the man he knew stood less than twenty feet from him.
“I left him a gift with the tiger. You tell him, tell River. If he wants enough to survive, he needs to find me.”
“I’ll tell him. Who the fuck are you?” Ricky demanded.
“You tell him blood heals blood. He’ll understand. It’s in his hands now.”
There was no sound, not even one leaf rustled, but Ricky knew the man was gone. He stepped into the woods and used his nose to find where the stranger had been, but the scent wasn’t any stronger there than it had been by the porch.
Who the fuck was that?
He ran inside and grabbed his clothes. When he was dressed he leaned over Shauna.
“Got club business darlin. I’ll send Mouse over or somebody. You’re safe”
She mumbled something incoherent and he smiled as he leaned in to kiss her.
He climbed on his bike and raced toward the clubhouse where his alpha was being held. He called the others on his way. Something was going down and he wanted some answers.
He jogged down the concrete stairs that lead to the belly of the clubhouse. It smelled dank and faintly of urine as he made his way down the row of cells until he found River. He lay on his cot, fast asleep.
Books, Dice, Clothesline, and Pie followed within a few minutes. They stood there and looked through the heavy bars at the man that had changed their lives, held them together.
“Without that man, I’d be dead right now.” Dice whispered. “I’m not too proud to admit it.”
The others nodded.
“If he is lost, you all will be.” The voice came from the shadows causing Ricky to jump and curse.
No one should be able to startle a shifter, their senses were too keen for that, but Lucian wasn’t like others.
He was dressed in a three-piece suit and looked like he was attending a business meeting, no matter that it was three in the morning.
“So, who was the fucker outside my house and what has he got to do with River?” Ricky insisted.
“Would you like for me to share your secrets with the others?” Lucian asked.
Ricky frowned.
“I thought not. Neither will I do so to your alpha.”
“Then why are you here?” Dice snarled. They had found a way to accept one another, but Dice still had his moments of hatred for the enigmatic tiger.
“I gave him a dose of his serum. There is enough for six doses. He will have to decide if he is willing to accept more.”
“Accept more?” Books frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means that the source is not one he will want to accept and the conditions for further treatment will be higher than he will meet.”
“So, he will refuse and die. That’s bullshit right there.” Clothesline shook his head.
“We all have our crosses. Think of the one person on earth you hate most, now ask yourself if you would ask them to save your life.”
“Easy.” Dice crossed his muscled arms over his chest. “You and yeah I did.”
Lucian pointed one long finger at the green-eyed wolf. “No. You needed it for your son. That is far different. Would you have come to me, begged me to save your own life?”
“Fuck no.” Dice looked disgusted.
“My point is made. Now, I have things to do. I suggest you try to convince him. I can do no more.”
“How can this man be River’s donor?” Books asked.
“He isn’t. His daughter is.” Lucian walked past the and up the stairs.
Ricky watched Lucian leave. His heart sank.
“Well fuck it. Let’s go get the daughter. Fuck the old man.” Dice growled.
“Where would we even begin?” Pie asked, worry thick in his voice.
“Lost Lakes, we start in those fucking caves.”
Ricky hated the thought, but they were out of options. They were going to see the monsters.