Chapter Fourteen
As they approached the Tennessee state line and headed into North Carolina, a hush fell over the truck. Ranger mentally prepared himself for the fight that was about to come. Their destination was a little town called Missile Springs. Apparently, the entire town was made up of Hope and Kraven’s old pride. There were no humans.
“The alpha’s home is in the center of town.” Noah cursed. “We will have to go in under the cover of darkness.”
“We need to lay low for the next hour or two at least,” Ranger said, looking out the window of the truck. The sun was setting, but not quick enough.
They had already wasted a day by taking the long drive from northwest Mississippi. Two weeks was all they had to be away from Talon without showing signs of weakness. This mission was going to hopefully only take one night…this night. He had no desire to be away from his mate any longer than that.
Noah, Booth, and Storm were just as focused as he was in regards to taking out Boris Small. It was rare to have one of their kind go off the rails and take over a pride in such a manner as the way this one had. It was against all of their natures to harm their own kind.
“There’s where we are supposed to meet our contact.” Storm pointed to a dirt road that led back into the forest. There was no mailbox on the road, so it looked like someone’s abandoned property.
Booth maneuvered the truck to where it was hidden from sight by any passing cars, and then turned it around so they were facing the road for a quick getaway if needed. Ranger studied the satellite view on his phone to pinpoint exactly where they were.
“Kraven said that the pride has been staying close to their homes and families since Boris took over,” Ranger informed the men. “This guy, Thorne Blackwell, is supposed to be an alpha, and he should’ve been the next one in line for this pride.”
“How so?” Booth asked.
“The old alpha was his father.”
“Shit!” Noah slammed his hand down on the bed of the truck. “And why in the hell didn’t Thorne take the power back from Boris?”
“Because of the females…my female,” Ranger snarled, feeling his panther push for dominance.
“What happened, Ranger?” Noah barked, his own eyes starting to glow amber from the tension in the air.
“It was my fault the females were hurt,” a voice said as a male with long, brown hair emerged from the wooded area behind them. “My name is Thorne Blackwell, and this pride is rightfully mine.”
“We have been sent by Kraven to help you,” Ranger replied, holding out his hand. “My name is Ranger Coleman, and Hope Alexander is my mate.”
“How is she?” Thorne asked, his face full of guilt.
“My mate is now stronger than ever.” Ranger wanted to assure this alpha that his mate was in perfect shape even after her scarring, and that he had no reason to feel guilty. “She told me everything. I promise you, alpha, that she is doing very well.”
“She’s strong,” Thorne chuckled. “This is true. I’ve seen her brother spar with her. She has one hell of a right hook.”
“Yeah,” Ranger flinched, rubbing his jaw. The males with him chuckled under their breath. He’d told them about her response to him volunteering for the trip to North Carolina. They’d teased him for a few hours about it, too.
“Are you ready to do this?” Noah asked, leaning against the truck.
“I have a concern,” Thorne said with a frown.
“And?” Storm pushed.
“Several of Boris Small’s Guardians have gone missing,” he replied, folding his arms over his massive chest.
“Like disappeared? Or left the pride because they wanted to find another?” Ranger inquired.
“Disappeared.” Thorne cursed. “There hasn’t been any word of what they’re doing.”
“How many?” Booth walked forward and clenched his fists at his sides.
“Boris has twelve Guardians,” Thorne replied. “Six are gone. Six are patrolling his residence and the town.”
“We can handle six,” Ranger chuffed. “What I want to know is where the other six are and what they are planning?”
“I’m sure we can get answers from the six left or from Boris himself,” Noah said, still looking bored. “Can we go in now?”
“Let me tell you the plan I have for taking Boris Small out of power,” Thorne announced, his eyes sparking amber. “I want my pride back.”
Tree frogs sang their nightly song as Hope sat out on the front porch of the cabin she and Ranger had made their home. She sensed the other pride members settling into their homes and the Guardians were prowling in the woods around the land.
She felt safe and secure at the Shaw pride and loved everyone that she’d met. Only the wild Guardian, Taze, had given her problems, but Talon assured her he wasn’t going to be bothering her anymore. Apparently, the alpha had a meeting with the male and set him straight. When she mentioned it to Ranger, he only replied with, “That’ll teach the punk.” After that, Taze’s outburst in the training room wasn’t spoken of.
The sound of human feet running up the road brought Hope out of her daydreaming. The Guardian Dane, her mate’s best friend, appeared, his eyes glowing amber.
“Get inside and lock the door,” he ordered as he ran toward her. “Now! Do not make me touch you.” In their world, when a male told you to go or he would be forced to touch you, a mate, it was important.
As soon as her foot cleared the small foyer, Dane was behind her, slamming the front door. He locked the deadbolt and rushed around the room, making sure the windows and the slider for the back door were secure.
“What’s going on?” she finally asked, watching the Guardian moving at top speed through her cabin.
“Guardians from your old pride are at our gates,” Dane snarled. “They’ve been detained, but Talon doesn’t know if there are more. We will take all precautions to keep you safe.”
“Is…is Boris Small with them?” Hope’s panther whined in her head and recessed deep into her mind out of fear. She closed her eyes and tried to pull her beast forward, but it didn’t work.
Come on, girl. I need you with me. Be strong.
“No,” Dane answered.
“How many of his Guardians were detained, Dane?” she asked, feeling her heart race. Her panther needed to reappear. She needed her for strength.
“Three,” he answered.
“That’s not right,” she frowned. “Dane, there has to be more. He wouldn’t send in three Guardians to get me from an entire pride. Especially one that’s as strong as the Shaw pride.”
“We only found three,” he reminded her. “Talon sent me here until they can check the land to make sure there are no more. I will stay with you until Ranger returns, too.”
“Where’s Ranger?” she gasped. Dane’s face distorted slightly, showing pain of his own. “Are they okay?”
“We don’t know,” Dane replied, his teeth clenching in anger. The huge Guardian stood at the window and peeked through the curtains at the front lawn. “Ranger and the others have shifted to go take out Boris Small. We will hear from them soon.”
“That’s it?” she snarled. “You’re not worried?”
“Hope,” Dane sighed, looking away from the window to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Your mate is going to be okay. You have to have faith in him.”
“You don’t understand, Dane,” she began, but quieted after his hard glare.
“He is a strong male, despite his injury,” Dane snarled, becoming protective of his friend.
“I know he’s strong,” she barked, gritting her teeth. Her panther wined so loudly, Dane’s eyes widened, his own panther pushed forward, causing a partial shift.
“I know,” he replied. “I know how frightened your panther is, Hope. Ranger told me everything.”
“Just because my beast is scared doesn’t mean that I am,” she huffed, crossing her arms.
“I never took you for one to be afraid of much,” Dane said. “Still doesn’t change things, Hope. Ranger is going to protect you, and if that means he has to kill the man who scarred you, then he will take him out and not blink when he does it.”
Their argument stalled when both of their enhanced hearing picked up the sound of paws on the wooden deck out the back door. Dane held his finger to his lips, telling Hope to keep silent. The Guardian moved to the partition between the kitchen and living room. She did the same, moving at top speed, hoping that whoever was out there was friend and not an enemy.
Dane shot off a message to his fellow Guardians, letting them know there was possible movement around the cabin. He pointed to a spot behind him so Hope would move there for her safety. She did as she was told, trying her hardest not to make a sound.
Dane’s phone lit up with a text. The Guardian’s eyes widened before turning the screen around for her to see the text from their alpha.
Cameras picked up three unknown males on our land. Keep Hope secure.
Hope screamed when a huge black panther shattered the bay window, sending glass everywhere. Dane’s panther ripped from his human skin and attacked the foreigner, taking him to the floor as he made the kill in an instant.
“Dane!” she screamed as another one entered the same way as his friend.
Hope balled her fists and calmed her breathing, remembering everything her brother had taught her in training. She jumped back when the two males rolled to the side, almost taking her to the floor.
“Now, now, now, look at what I found,” Chuck, one of Boris Small’s Guardians, growled as he climbed through the window in his human form. “You are far away from home, little girl.”
“Come on, Chuck,” she growled, widening her stance. “I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“Bitch, please,” he laughed. The male marched toward her, his pursuit confident like he was going to just take her out with him.
Boy, was he ever wrong.