Flint itched to get out and see what was going on, but he couldn’t bear to leave his Bloodmate. He kept her tight in his embrace and satisfied himself with twisting around and watching out the back window. Secure in the knowledge he was surrounded by an army that was there to protect her.

He had a decent view due to the headlights of the front vehicle which, at first, had been completely surrounded by Ace’s men, but now they’d fanned out and a huge bear of a man had gotten out and was standing having an animated conversation with Ace. His arms were flying around as he talked, and it was obvious he wasn’t going anywhere until Ace seemed to relent and shadowed him toward Flint’s vehicle with two other men guarding him.

When they arrived the newcomer leaned down, his massive upper half sticking in the driver’s door, hand resting on the seat. He had a head of red hair and a face covered in a bushy beard, with green eyes that locked with his. “I assume you’re Flint?”

“I am, who’re you?” Flint replied, on guard but getting no bad vibes from the mountain of a man. He was obviously a Wolf, but he was also an Alpha, that much was certain. He could feel the power rolling off the man. No wonder Ace was right there with his men, guarding his every move.

“Hello, I’m Dougie MacDowall, and I received an urgent call from a friend of mine, I believe you know him . . . Victor Strong. He says you need my help. Said you’ve found your soulmate and she’s hurt and needs protection. So, here I am with some of my men, including my Beta, Gus. We’ll watch over her for you until this business is over, or until you don’t need us. For however long you need us. However long, laddie. That’s my job now. Yours is to take out whoever’s the threat, so you concentrate on that, okay?”

Flint’s entire body relaxed as if a weight had been lifted from his very soul. A small pack of wolves, including a fucking Alpha and a Beta. Damn. Victor had got his Bloodmate a pack of wolves to guard her. “I can’t thank you enough, Dougie. If you follow us into my cottage where I’m staying, the Healer is waiting on us. That’s where she’ll be staying for the time being.”

“Aye, laddie, that’s fine.” Dougie tipped two fingers to the side of his head and backed out of the cab, addressing Ace as he did so. “All set.”

Ace shook his head as Dougie retreated to his own vehicle. “She’s got her own damn pack to guard her . . . your boss has some clout, Flint.”

“Yeah, he does.” Flint agreed before waving for Talon. “Come on, Talon, we need to get her to the Healer.”

“Coming,” Talon jumped back in, and they were on their way in seconds, with Dougie and his men right on their tail.

The thought brought Flint a sense of peace he hadn’t felt since he’d leapt into the Range Rover back in Edinburgh. Shit, was that only, what? An hour or two ago? It felt like a damn lifetime had passed and he was sure he’d aged ten years with the burden and anxiety of keeping the frail body in his embrace safe. Some of the anxiety had lifted when the Alpha had spoken with such assuredness of taking over as her guardian, and although Flint didn’t want . . . no, hell, he hated the thought of leaving her side, but he knew it was necessary. He had to. He had to ensure that Kragen was taken out, as well as take his pleasure in destroying the bastard who’d inflicted the injuries to her in the first place. Hell, yes, that fucker Stelian was going to pay and pay hard for what he’d done, and Flint was going to enjoy every damn second of the pain he was going to inflict.

“Talon, I need a favor.”

“Anything . . . shit, maybe not. What is it?” The Scot smiled over his shoulder before returning his eyes to the long driveway.

“Blades, I need them, lots of them. Do you have a supply? Throwing knives, some daggers . . . push daggers if you’ve got them, and do you have any Fairbairn-Sykes? If you do, please, get me a couple of them too. If you’ve got any silver tipped blades, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could get me some. I’ve got a special use for those in mind.”

“Jesus, Flint, how many do you want?” Talon shook his head, “I’ve got a few but I’d need to go to the armory for some of those, especially ones with silver. I don’t have those. I’m not even certain they’re in the armory. I’ll need to check with Mister Alexander.”

“If you can manage to get your hands on them for me then please do,” Flint pressed determinedly. “And I’ll take as many as you can get me, together with a pack of some kind to carry them in, oh, and can you get me a change of clothes too. I’m afraid I didn’t come equipped for a damn battle.”

He thought of his Armani suits, and his tight fighting Boss jeans . . . no they definitely wouldn’t be suitable for the bloodbath he knew was coming. He required combat gear and darn if he’d gone and forgotten to pack that this time around. Flint grinned when Talon chuckled before replying.

“You and me both. I’ll get the weapons and a change of clothing for us after we’ve met with Mister Alexander.”

“Fine,” Flint ground out, not looking forward to being introduced to his host. If he tried to come across as high-handed or talk down to him . . . they were going to have a problem. He knew Victor was calling in favors that meant Quinn was being “paid” in some way or another, and more than likely very handsomely too. What that was he’d find out. Most probably not from Quinn, but he’d wrangle it out of Victor somehow and pay him back. Whatever it took, he’d do it. No matter the cost, he’d meet it, even if it took him a hundred years . . . he’d fucking do it.